Prognostic Effect of Psoas Muscle Index, a Parameter of Sarcopenia, in Solid Cancer Patients Receiving Immunotherapy
Arif Hakan Onder1, Ismail Beypinar2, Yildiz Kilar Sozer31Department of Medical Oncology, University of Health Sciences Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Türkiye Department of Medical Oncology, University of Health Sciences Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Türkiye, 2Department of Medical Oncology, Alaaddin Keykubat University, Alanya, Antalya, Türkiye, 3Department of Radiology, University of Health Sciences Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Türkiye
Objectives: In this study, our objective was to evaluate the prognostic feature of sarcopenia and prognostic laboratory markers, defined by using PMI measurement in patients with kidney cancer and malignant melanoma, receiving immunotherapy. Methods: Diagnosed with and followed up for kidney cancer (RCC) and malignant melanoma (MM) and received Nivolumab immunotherapy in the Oncology Clinic, were retrospectively analyzed. Laboratory examinations and CT images used for staging in the diagnosis were retrospectively used for psoas muscle measurements. Results: We investigated the effect of pretreatment PMI on survival and response to treatment. For this purpose, 93 patients with malignant melanoma (n=45) and kidney cancer (n=48) were included in the study. Among female patients with and without sarcopenia at baseline, median progression-free survival was 30.2 and 50.1 months (p=0.769), respectively, while in men, conversely, 54.8 and 34.3 months (p=0.307), respectively. Median overall survival was 31.0 and 51.7 months (p=0.763) in female patients with and without sarcopenia, respectively, and 62.9 and 52.4 months in males with and without sarcopenia (p=0.906). Conclusion: This result may suggest that sarcopenia has a negative effect on the immune response. It should be considered that sarcopenia may affect the clinical outcomes of immunotherapy. Further studies are needed. Keywords: PMI, sarcopenia, metabolic index, solid cancer, immunotherapy
Cite This Article
Onder A, Beypinar I, Sozer Y. Prognostic Effect of Psoas Muscle Index, a Parameter of Sarcopenia, in Solid Cancer Patients Receiving Immunotherapy. EJMI. 2023; 7(4): 361-372
Corresponding Author: Arif Hakan Onder