Sarcopenia in pancreatic cancer – effects on surgical outcomes and chemotherapy

Sarcopenia is found in up to 65% of pancreatic cancer patients. The definition and diagnostic methods for sarcopenia have changed over the years, and the measurement of skeletal muscle mass with cross-sectional imaging has become the most popular way of assessment, although the parameters measured v...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inWorld journal of gastrointestinal oncology Vol. 11; no. 7; pp. 527 - 537
Main Authors Chan, Miu Yee, Chok, Kenneth Siu Ho
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published China Baishideng Publishing Group Inc 15.07.2019
Subjects
Minireviews
Surgical outcomes
Sarcopenia
Chemotherapy
Radiotherapy
Pancreatic cancer
Clinical outcomes
Online AccessGet full text
ISSN1948-5204
1948-5204
DOI10.4251/wjgo.v11.i7.527

Cover

More Information
Summary:Sarcopenia is found in up to 65% of pancreatic cancer patients. The definition and diagnostic methods for sarcopenia have changed over the years, and the measurement of skeletal muscle mass with cross-sectional imaging has become the most popular way of assessment, although the parameters measured vary among different studies. It is still debatable that there is an association between sarcopenia and postoperative pancreatic fistula, but most studies showed a higher risk in patients with sarcopenic obesity. Long-term survival is worse in sarcopenic patients, as shown by meta-analysis. Sarcopenia is also associated with decreased survival and higher toxicity in patients receiving chemotherapy, and chemotherapy also tends to potentiate sarcopenia. Treatment for sarcopenia still remains an area for research, although oral supplements, nutritional modifications and exercise training have been shown to improve sarcopenia.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
ObjectType-Review-3
content type line 23
Corresponding author: Kenneth Siu Ho Chok, FRCS (Ed), Associate Professor, Department of Surgery and State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, 102 Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong, China. Chok6275@hku.hk
Author contributions: Chan MY performed the literature review and drafted the manuscript; Chok KSH was responsible for the concept and supervision of the study and final approval of the manuscript.
Telephone: +852-22553025
ISSN:1948-5204
1948-5204
DOI:10.4251/wjgo.v11.i7.527