Prediction of whole body composition utilizing cross-sectional abdominal imaging in pediatrics.

Background: Although body composition is an important determinant of pediatric health outcomes, we lack tools to routinely assess it in clinical practice. We define models to predict whole-body skeletal muscle and fat composition, as measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) or whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in pediatric oncology and healthy pediatric cohorts, respectively.

Methods: Pediatric oncology patients (≥5 to ≤18 years) undergoing an abdominal CT were prospectively recruited for a concurrent study DXA scan.

Rapid atrophy of cardiac left ventricular mass in patients with non-small cell carcinoma of the lung.

Background: Cancer is a systemic catabolic condition affecting skeletal muscle and fat. We aimed to determine whether cardiac atrophy occurs in this condition and assess its association with cardiac function, symptoms, and clinical outcomes.

Methods: Treatment naïve metastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients (n = 50) were assessed prior to and 4 months after commencement of carboplatin-based palliative chemotherapy.

Undiagnosed cardiac deficits in non-small cell carcinoma patients in the candidate population for anti-cachexia clinical trials.

Purpose: Currently, there is no approved therapy for cancer cachexia. According to European and American regulatory agencies, physical function improvements would be approvable co-primary endpoints of new anti-cachexia medications. As physical functioning is in part dependent on cardiac functioning, we aimed to explore the cardiac status of a group of patients meeting current criteria for inclusion in cachexia clinical trials.

Weight loss versus muscle loss: re-evaluating inclusion criteria for future cancer cachexia interventional trials.

Purpose: Participation in cancer cachexia clinical trials requires a defined weight loss (WL) over time. A loss in skeletal muscle mass, measured by cross-sectional computed tomography (CT) image analysis, represents a possible alternative. Our aim was to compare WL versus muscle loss in patients who were screened to participate in a cancer cachexia clinical trial.