Clinical Impact of Cachexia in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Who Received Chemoradiotherapy

Purpose: There have been few reports on the evaluation of cancer cachexia based on skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) in patients with head and neck cancer. Patients and Methods: One hundred and ninety-two head and neck cancer patients were enrolled. In definitive and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy settings, clinical outcomes were compared between cachexia and non-cachexia patients. Results: Forty patients were diagnosed with cachexia (20.8%). In the definitive setting, overall survival (OS) was significantly shorter in the cachexia group (3-year OS: 50.0% vs 88.5%; p < 0.01), and multivariate analysis identified UICC stage IV, baseline albumin of <4 and cachexia as poor prognostic factors. However, cachexia was not significant in the adjuvant setting. Conclusion: Cancer cachexia was negatively associated with prognosis in patients with HNC who received definitive chemoradiotherapy. Nutritional intervention during chemora-diotherapy may improve survival in these patients.

Automated summary

In head and neck cancer patients, cancer cachexia is negatively associated with prognosis, and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) can be used as an evaluation index. Cachexia in definitive treatment has a negative impact on overall survival, while it is not significant in adjuvant treatment.