Adipose tissue volume is decreased in recently diagnosed cancer patients with cachexia

Approximately 50% of patients with cancer develop cachexia. The aim of the present study was to determine if there were differences in the amount of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues at the time of the diagnosis among patients with cancer cachexia (CC), patients with cancer and a stable weight (WS), and patients with cancer and weight loss because of gastrointestinal obstruction (GO).

Patients with recently diagnosed cancer were divided into the CC, WS, and GO groups. Body composition was determined by bioimpedance. Basal metabolic rate and energy expenditure were estimated by indirect calorimetry. Visceral and subcutaneous white adipose tissues (WATs) were quantified by the segmentation of a 10-mm-thick computed tomographic slice obtained through the central part of the third lumbar vertebra.

The body mass index and body fat were decreased in the CC and GO groups compared with the WS group, but there were no significant differences between the two weight-losing groups. Lean body mass, total body water, and energy expenditure were similar among the groups. The visceral WAT volume was decreased in the CC but not in the GO group compared with the WS group (P < 0.05). The subcutaneous WAT was decreased in the CC and GO groups compared with the WS group (P < 0.001).

The WAT was decreased in the CC and GO groups compared with the WS group. Furthermore, patients with CC exhibited a selective decrease in visceral WAT. This may be new information regarding the WAT distribution in CC.