Preserving Muscle Mass During Chemotherapy: A Key Factor for Survival in Pancreatic Cancer Patients
Research indicates that the extent of muscle loss following chemotherapy plays a critical role in determining local treatment options, including surgery, and that greater muscle loss negatively impacts treatment outcomes in pancreatic cancer patients. Specifically, it was found that the patient's prognosis worsened when cancer cell activity remained high despite chemotherapy.
The research team led by Professor Yu, Jeong Il from the Department of Radiation Oncology and Professor Min, Ji Hye from the Department of Radiology at Samsung Medical Center analyzed treatment outcomes based on changes in skeletal muscle index (ΔSMI) and pancreatic cancer marker (CA 19-9) following chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer patients. Their findings were recently published in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle (IF 9.4).
This study involved 227 patients diagnosed with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) and locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) between 2015 and 2020, all of whom received four or more rounds of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (FOLFIRINOX). The research team found that a greater change in skeletal muscle index (ΔSMI) before and after chemotherapy was associated with a higher incidence of pancreatic cancer recurrence and an increased risk of death.
Professor Yu, Jeong Il and Professor Min, Ji Hye stated, 'While pancreatic cancer still presents numerous challenges, we hope that the results of this study will aid in treatment decision-making and contribute to improving patients' quality of life by suggesting treatment strategies that offer even a slight advantage.”