Use of automated assessment for determining associations of low muscle mass and muscle loss with overall survival in patients with colorectal cancer - A validation study.

Background: Low muscle mass and skeletal muscle mass (SMM) loss are associated with adverse patient outcomes, but the time-consuming nature of manual SMM quantification prohibits implementation of this metric in clinical practice. Therefore, we assessed the feasibility of automated SMM quantification compared to manual quantification. We evaluated both diagnostic accuracy for low muscle mass and associations of SMM (change) with survival in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.

Role of Up-Front Primary Tumor Resection and Tumor Sidedness in the Survival of Synchronous Metastatic Colon Cancer Patients.

Introduction: Uncertainty exists about a possible survival benefit of primary tumor resection (PTR) in synchronous metastatic colon cancer (mCC). Since sidedness of the primary tumor is regarded as an important prognostic factor, our objective was to study the interaction between PTR and sidedness in synchronous mCC.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we used data from 2 first-line phase 3 randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Worse capecitabine treatment outcome in patients with a low skeletal muscle mass is not explained by altered pharmacokinetics.

Background: A low skeletal muscle mass (SMM) has been associated with increased toxicity and shorter survival in cancer patients treated with capecitabine, an oral prodrug of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Capecitabine and its metabolites are highly water-soluble and, therefore, more likely to distribute to lean tissues. The pharmacokinetics (PK) in patients with a low SMM could be changed, for example, by reaching higher maximum plasma concentrations.

The association between changes in muscle mass and quality of life in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: Skeletal muscle mass (SMM) loss is common in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients and associated with poor clinical outcomes, including increased treatment-related toxicities and reduced survival. Muscle loss may contribute to reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL), including fatigue. Our aim was to study associations between changes in SMM and concomitant changes in patient-reported HRQoL.

Loss of skeletal muscle index and survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: Secondary analysis of the phase 3 CAIRO3 trial.

Background: Low skeletal muscle index (SMI) in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients is associated with poor outcomes. The prognostic impact of SMI changes during consecutive palliative systemic treatments is unknown.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of the phase 3 CAIRO3 study.