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Skeletal Muscle Attenuation (Sarcopenia) Predicts Reduced Overall Survival in Patients with Advanced Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Undergoing Primary Debulking Surgery

  • Gynecologic Oncology
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Sarcopenia was reported as a prognostic factor in cancer patients. Using computed tomography (CT), we analyzed the impact of sarcopenia on overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) after primary debulking surgery (PDS).

Methods

Preoperative CT scans of consecutive EOC patients (n = 323) were retrospectively assessed for skeletal muscle index (SMI) and muscle attenuation (MA; Hounsfield units [HU]). The optimal cut-off point for MA (32 HU) was calculated using the Martingale residuals method, and previously reported cut-offs for SMI were used. Logistic regression was used to determine univariate and multivariate factors associated with OS.

Results

Sarcopenia defined as SMI < 38.5, < 39, and 41 cm2/m2 was detected in 29.4, 33.7, and 47.1% of patients, respectively; however, none of these SMI cut-off levels were associated with OS. MA < 32 HU was present in 21.1% (68/323) of the total cohort. Significant differences between patients with MA < 32 and ≥ 32 HU were detected for median age (67 vs. 57 years), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) > 0 (13.2 vs. 3.1%), comorbidity (age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index [ACCI] ≥ 4; 36.8 vs. 13.3%), median body mass index (BMI; 27 vs. 24 kg/m2), International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, histology (high-grade serous 95.6 vs. 84.7%), and complete resection (38.2 vs. 68.2%). MA < 32 HU remained a significant prognostic factor for OS in multivariate Cox regression analysis (hazard ratio 1.79, p = 0.003). Median OS in patients with MA < 32 HU versus MA ≥ 32 HU was 28 versus 56 months (p < 0.001). Furthermore, MA < 32 HU was significantly associated with OS in the prognostically poor population of patients with residual tumor (p = 0.015).

Conclusions

Low MA was significantly associated with poor survival, especially in patients with residual tumor after PDS. MA assessment could be used for risk stratification after PDS.

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Disclosures

Beyhan Ataseven, Teresa González Luengo, Andreas du Bois, Kai-Uwe Waltering, Alexander Traut, Florian Heitz, Pier Francesco Alesina, Sonia Prader, Beate Meier, Stephanie Schneider, Jens-Albrecht Koch, Martin Walz, Harald-Thomas Groeben, Pauly Nina, Violeta Brunkhorst, Sebastian Heikaus, Philipp Harter declare no conflicts of interest with respect to the topic of this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Evangelische Huyssens-Stiftung, Essen, Germany

    Beyhan Ataseven MD, PhD, Andreas du Bois MD, PhD, Alexander Traut MD, Florian Heitz MD, Sonia Prader MD, Stephanie Schneider MD, Pauly Nina MD & Philipp Harter MD, PhD

  2. Department of Radiology, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Essen, Germany

    Teresa González Luengo MD, Kai-Uwe Waltering MD & Jens-Albrecht Koch MD, PhD

  3. Department of Visceral Surgery, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Essen, Germany

    Pier Francesco Alesina MD, Beate Meier MD & Martin Walz MD, PhD

  4. Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Essen, Germany

    Harald-Thomas Groeben MD, PhD & Violeta Brunkhorst MD

  5. Center for Pathology, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Essen, Germany

    Sebastian Heikaus MD, PhD

  6. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany

    Beyhan Ataseven MD, PhD

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  1. Beyhan Ataseven MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Beyhan Ataseven MD, PhD.

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Ataseven, B., Luengo, T.G., du Bois, A. et al. Skeletal Muscle Attenuation (Sarcopenia) Predicts Reduced Overall Survival in Patients with Advanced Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Undergoing Primary Debulking Surgery. Ann Surg Oncol 25, 3372–3379 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-018-6683-3

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