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Associations Between Body Composition and Intratumoural Immune Cells in Patients With Uterine Cervical Cancer
Alexey Surov1, Anne-Katrin Höhn2, Mattes Hinnerichs3
1Institute of Radiology, Neuroradiology and Nuclear Medicine, Johannes-Wesling-Klinikum Minden, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle
|March 10, 2026
Summary
Reduced muscle radiodensity (myosteatosis) and increased fat in uterine cervical cancer (UCC) patients correlate with lower immune cell infiltration. These body composition factors may help predict patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Reduced muscle mass and radiodensity are linked to poor outcomes in uterine cervical cancer (UCC).
- Understanding body composition's role in immune response is crucial for UCC patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between body composition (BC) parameters and intratumoural immune cells in UCC patients.
- To explore potential prognostic markers within body composition.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of body composition (skeletal muscle area, radiodensity, visceral adipose tissue, subcutaneous adipose tissue, intramuscular adipose tissue) in 61 UCC patients via CT scans.
- Histopathological quantification of stromal and intratumoural CD45-positive cells.
- Statistical analysis using ANOVA to determine associations between BC parameters and immune cell infiltration.
Main Results:
- Myosteatosis (low muscle radiodensity) was associated with significantly lower stromal CD45-positive cells (21.6% vs. 34.85%, p=0.04).
- High subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) correlated with reduced tumour-infiltrating CD45 cells (p=0.03).
- Increased intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) radiodensity was linked to lower stromal CD45 scores (p=0.02).
Conclusions:
- Myosteatosis, high SAT, and increased IMAT radiodensity are associated with decreased immune cell infiltration in UCC.
- These body composition metrics show potential as prognostic markers for risk stratification in uterine cervical cancer.
