The impact of body composition on treatment in ovarian cancer: a current insight.

INTRODUCTION: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains the most lethal of gynecological cancers. Sarcopenia and low Skeletal Muscle Radiodensity (SMD) are highly prevalent in EOC. Cross sectional imaging via MRI and CT are considered the gold standard for quantification of muscle mass and muscle density. Skeletal Muscle Index (SMI) and SMD-based thresholds for sarcopenia in EOC vary significantly and specific EOC thresholds for sarcopenia have not been defined. AREAS COVERED: Sarcopenia and low SMD are highly prevalent in EOC affecting between 11-68% and 21-35% of women, respectively. SMD may be a better prognostic biomarker in ovarian cancer than SMI. Reduced SMI and SMD may also influence the risk of postoperative complications but further studies are required. There is increasing evidence that sarcopenia increases during neoadjuvant chemotherapy. EXPERT COMMENTARY: Prehabilitation studies in surgical oncology indicate encouraging results, such as, maintenance of SMI, reduced length of stay and surgical complication rates, improved health-related quality of life and functional capacity. Early identification of body composition abnormalities would permit targeted intervention prior to, and after surgery. Cross-sectional imaging is routinely used for staging and surveillance of EOC patients and hence assessment of body composition abnormalities is possible and an underutilized resource.

Diet and Nutrition Advice After a Solid Tumor Diagnosis.

PURPOSE: Credible evidence-based diet and nutrition advice is essential for patients with cancer. This study aimed to explore what advice patients with cancer obtained before a formal dietetic visit. METHODS: A multicenter, observational study was conducted in seven hospital-based oncology services. Consecutive patients were recruited at first dietetic assessment. In addition to routine dietetic assessment, participants completed a four-item questionnaire describing diet and nutrition advice obtained since diagnosis. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients participated. More than 80% had multiple nutrition-impact symptoms. In total, 53 (69%) obtained advice from professional and nonprofessional sources before dietetic visit. Family and friends were the most common sources of advice. More than one third got advice from (nondietetic) healthcare professionals. Most advice related to "foods to include" (61%) and "foods to avoid" (54%) in the diet. Many of the "foods to avoid" were important sources of micro- and macronutrients. Advice about dietary supplements (31%) and specific diets (28%) was common, rarely evidence-based, and frequently contradictory. Participants found it difficult to discern what advice was trustworthy and reliable. Despite this, most followed the advice. CONCLUSION: The majority of patients received diet and nutrition advice before first dietetic visit. Most of this came from nonprofessional sources. Any advice from nondietetic healthcare professionals was inconsistent or vague. This was mainly related to the avoidance and/or inclusion of particular foods and was often contradictory. Nevertheless, patients usually followed such advice fully. To help manage their frequent nutrition-impact symptoms and resolve the contradictory advice they had received, many expressed the need for earlier professional dietetic consultation.

The Impact of Sarcopenia and Low Muscle Attenuation on Overall Survival in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is defined as a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength and physical performance. Myosteatosis is an increase of intra- and intermuscular fat and can be measured radiologically by muscle attenuation. The study aim was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prognostic potential of sarcopenia and low muscle attenuation in relation to 3-year survival rates (3YSR) and 5YSR in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted using the databases Ovid Medline, EMBASE, and Scopus, using PRISMA guidelines, from inception to 10th of May 2019. Studies evaluated the prognostic potential of sarcopenia and low muscle attenuation on 3YSR and 5YSR in EOC. Quality assessment of included studies was performed using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomised Studies criteria. RESULTS: A comprehensive search of databases resulted in the identification of 2194 studies, resulting in 1695 citations meeting the inclusion criteria. Six studies were included for systematic review. Sarcopenia was not significantly associated with improved 3YSR (OR 1.7, 95% CI 0.8-3.5, p = 0.15) or 5YSR (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.0-3.2, p = 0.07) in meta-analysis. Normal muscle attenuation was associated with a favourable 3YSR (OR 3.0, 95% CI 2.0-4.5, p < 0.001) and 5YSR (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.6-3.4, p < 0.001) compared to low muscle attenuation. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis indicated normal muscle attenuation was significantly associated with improved 3YSR and 5YSR in patients with EOC. Sarcopenia was not significantly associated with 3YSR or 5YSR in patients with EOC.

A meta-analysis of morbidity and mortality in primary cytoreductive surgery compared to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced ovarian malignancy.

Aim The aim of this meta-analysis is to review the morbidity and mortality associated with primary cytoreductive surgery (PCS) compared to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and interval cytoreductive surgery (NACT + ICS) for advanced ovarian cancer. METHODS: A literature search was performed for publications reporting morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing PCS compared to NACT + ICS. Databases searched were Cochrane, Medline, Pubmed, Pubmed Central, clinicaltrials.gov and Embase. Two independent reviewers applied inclusion and exclusion criteria to select included papers, with differences agreed by consensus. A total of 1341 citations were reviewed; 17 studies comprising 3759 patients were selected for the analysis. The literature search was performed using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results were reported as mean differences or pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS: Patients in the PCS group were significantly more likely to have a Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ 3 morbidity with an overall rate of 21.2% compared to 8.8% (95%CI 1.9-4.0, p < 0.0001) and were more likely to die within 30 days of surgery (OR 6.1, 95% CI 2.1-17.6, p = 0.0008). Patients who underwent NACT + ICS had significantly shorter procedural times (MD -35 min, p = 0.01), lost less blood intraoperatively (MD-382 ml, p < 0.001) and had an average admission 5.0 days shorter (MD -5.0 days, 95% CI -8.1 to -1.9 days, p = 0.002) than those undergoing PCS. While NACT was associated with significantly increased optimal and complete cytoreduction rates (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3-2.9, p = 0.001, and OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.5-3.3, p = 0.0001 respectively), this did not confer any additional survival benefit (OR 1.0, p = 0.76). CONCLUSION: NACT is associated with less morbidity and mortality and improved complete cytoreduction compared to PCS, with no survival benefit. Hence NACT is an acceptable alternative in selected patients in particular with medical co-morbidities or a high tumour burden.