Sex-Based Body Composition Changes in Patients With Rectal Cancer Undergoing Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy: A...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Body Composition Analysis
• Gerontology

Background:

• Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for rectal cancer can impact patient body composition and functional status.
• These changes may influence postoperative outcomes, necessitating a thorough understanding of CRT's effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively characterize changes in body composition, muscle strength, and physical performance in rectal cancer patients undergoing CRT.
• To assess the impact of CRT on nutritional status and identify pre-sarcopenic and sarcopenic statuses.

Main Methods:

• Body composition, hand grip strength (HGS), gait speed, and nutritional status (Mini-Nutritional Assessment - MNA) were measured at multiple time points during and after CRT.
• Pre-sarcopenic status was defined as low muscle mass alone; sarcopenic status as low muscle mass and low muscle strength or function.

Main Results:

• CRT led to significant decreases in body fat mass and HGS, particularly in women.
• Skeletal muscle mass and MNA scores showed slight decreases, while gait speed remained unchanged.
• The incidence of pre-sarcopenic and sarcopenic status increased in women post-CRT, unlike in men.

Conclusions:

• Chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer demonstrably reduces muscle strength and body fat, with a more pronounced effect observed in female patients.
• These findings suggest potential sex-specific alterations in body composition and functional status following CRT, warranting further investigation into tailored therapeutic strategies.