Impact of body composition parameters on radiation therapy compliance in locally advanced rectal cancer: A retrospective observational analysis

Background The impact of body composition and sarcopenia in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) is still unclear, even several studies have been published on this issue. Our study aims to analyze the impact of sarcopenia on neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) tolerance and survival outcomes. Methods This is a retrospective, monocentric study where LARC patients treated between 2010 and 2020 were enrolled. A single slice, from the pre-therapy simulation computed tomography (CT) scan, was used to perform the body composition analysis with dedicated software. The primary endpoint was the impact of body composition on radiotherapy (RT) interruption secondarily on overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and local control (LC). Results The study included 628 LARC patients (40.9 % female, mean age 63.4 years): 24 % had low skeletal muscle index (SMI), 30 % had low muscle density (MD) and 17 (10.3 % of obese) were sarcopenic obese. Higher BMI (OR 2.38, 95 % CI 1.36–4.01) and lower SMI (0.73, 95 % CI 0.55–0.94) resulted as independent predictors of RT interruption. Sarcopenic obesity (HR 2.83, 95 % CI 1.24–6.45) was related to worse OS, while MD (0.96, 95 % CI 0.93–0.98), and higher SMI (0.97, 95 % CI 0.95–0.99) were related to better OS; a lower MD remained also associated even in adjusted multivariable analysis (0.96, 95 % CI0.93–0.98). Moreover, higher visceral adipose tissue (VAT) resulted associated with worse DFS (1.02, 95 % CI 1.01–1.03), while higher SMI was related to better Local Control (0.96, 95 % CI 0.93–0.99). Conclusions Body composition analysis, particularly of muscle and fat masses, may be a useful tool for better management of LARC patients undergoing RT. Increased collaboration between radiation oncologists and clinical nutritionists is advisable, to enable early nutritional support of LARC.