BODY MASS INDEX AS A PROGNOSTIC FACTOR FOR DISEASE PROGRESSION IN PATIENTS WITH METASTATIC COLORECTAL CANCER TREATED...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Clinical Research
• Cancer Prognostics

Background:

• Obesity is linked to increased colorectal cancer risk and poorer prognosis.
• Bevacizumab, an anti-VEGF therapy, is crucial for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).
• Obesity may drive resistance to anti-VEGF therapies due to elevated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of bevacizumab systemic therapy in mCRC patients.
• To evaluate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective, single-center cohort study.
• Analysis of 112 mCRC patients treated with bevacizumab-based therapy from 2007-2012.
• Comparison of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) based on BMI cut-off of 27 kg/sqm.

Main Results:

• Patients with BMI < 27 kg/sqm had significantly longer PFS (24 months) than those with BMI ≥ 27 kg/sqm (17.9 months; p=0.04).
• In patients with liver metastases, lower BMI (< 27 kg/sqm) correlated with longer PFS (24.5 months) compared to higher BMI (≥ 27 kg/sqm; 17.5 months; p=0.02).
• Five-year OS was not significantly influenced by BMI in either the overall cohort or in patients with liver metastases.

Conclusions:

• Elevated BMI (≥ 27 kg/sqm) negatively affects PFS in mCRC patients treated with bevacizumab, both overall and in those with liver metastases.
• A BMI cut-off of 27 kg/sqm emerged as a clinically relevant prognostic factor.
• BMI should be considered a significant prognostic indicator for mCRC patients undergoing anti-VEGF therapy.