Relationship between weight loss and parameters of skeletal muscle function in patients with advanced cancer and fatigue.

PURPOSE: This study aims to determine the influence of significant weight loss on parameters of skeletal muscle function in a population of advanced cancer patients with fatigue. METHODS: A cross-sectional and comparative study was designed between two arms of advanced cancer patients with fatigue (fatigue numeral scale (FNS) ≥4). A arm (n = 27) with ≥5 % weight loss in the last 6 months, and B arm (n = 22) without weight loss. Muscle strength was examined by hand grip technique and measurements of body composition by bioimpedance analysis (BIA), values of hemoglobin, albumin, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), c-reactive protein (CRP), urine creatinine, and FNS. These variables were compared between both groups and correlated within each group. RESULTS: here were no differences concerning parameters of muscle strength between both arms. A arm had values of CRP ≥10 ug/dl in 77 % compared with 38.5 % of B arm (p = 0.004). A arm showed a higher percentage of body cell mass (%BCM) than B arm (p = 0.005). The A arm also showed a lower percentage of fat mass (%FM) (p = 0.014) when compared to the B arm. FNS was higher in A arm (median 7 vs 5; p = 0.047). All the variables of muscle strength had a significant positive correlation. In A arm, BCM had a negative significant correlation with CRP (p = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, significant weight loss and high CRP did not have influence on parameters of skeletal muscular function. We consider that further studies should be necessary, preferably with longitudinal designs to evaluate these findings.

Relationship between weakness and phase angle in advanced cancer patients with fatigue.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the relationship between weakness and bioimpedance analysis (BIA)-derived phase angle in a population of untreated cancer patients with fatigue. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 41 treatment-naive cancer patients of several origins that presented with performance status 1-2, weight loss >5% in the last 6 months, and Fatigue Numeral Scale score >4. Weakness was considered a physical component of the multidimensional fatigue syndrome and was evaluated through several parameters utilizing hand grip strength technique by dinamometry. The same assessment was also performed on a healthy control population (n = 20). BIA-derived phase angle was also determined by BIA. RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls, cancer patients exhibited significant differences in all the parameters: median fatigue was 6 (range 5-9), evaluated maximal strength mean was 27 ± 10.71 vs. 42 ± 10.74 kg (p < 0.0001 for patients vs. control, respectively), and muscle strength difference (max-min muscle strength) was also statistically different (p < 0.0001). We also determined parameter associations within the patient population. We found statistical significant correlations between median phase angle score and endurance muscle with percentage of weight loss (r = 0.43, p = 0.03) for head and neck cancer patients, and in non-small cell lung cancer patients, grip work correlated significantly with normal or decreased phase angle (r = 0.85), p = 0.006 (Spearman Rank Correlation). CONCLUSIONS: Weakness could be correlated with normal or decreased phase angle in a population with ambulatory advanced cancer with fatigue naive of treatment. We also found a significant relationship between median phase angle score and endurance muscle with percentage of weight loss in the subpopulation of patients with head and neck carcinoma.