Abstract
While long-term obesity is a well-known risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma (ADC), recent weight loss represents a significant concern in esophageal cancer (EC), in relation with dysphagia and disease aggressiveness. These phenomenons may diversely impact the adipose tissue density, suggested in other cancer settings as an important prognostic biomarker. The analysis of body mass composition (BMC) parameters, including adipose tissue attenuation is studied here in a population of EC operated with curative intent. BMC was retrospectively evaluated on Computed-Tomography (CT)-scan images from fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron-emitting (PET)/CT scans performed as a diagnostic procedure in a cohort of 145EC patients operated with curative intent The mean subcutaneous (SFD) and visceral fat (VFD) density along with the index (area/height2) (SF index (SFI), VF index (VFI)) were assessed on two adjacent slides at the third lumbar vertebra level by two independent investigators. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from the date of the baseline FDG-PET/CT scan. Inter-observer correlations are excellent for all BMC parameters (r=0.94-0.99). As expected, weight loss is associated with worse outcome. We show that low SFD (HR 0.5 (95% CI: 0.3-0.7), p<0.001) and low VFD (HR 0.6 (95% CI: 0.4-0.9), p=0.04) at diagnosis are associated with better OS. In contrast, body mass index (BMI) fails to show any relevance in predicting survival. Adipose tissue density is an important prognostic factor in EC.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.