Impact of sarcopenia on tumor response and survival outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated by trans-arterial (chemo)-embolization
Gaël S. Roth, Yann Teyssier, Maxime Benhamou, Mélodie Abousalihac, Stefano Caruso, Christian Sengel, Olivier Séror, Julien Ghelfi, Arnaud Seigneurin, Nathalie Ganne‐Carrié, Elia Gigante, Lorraine Blaise, Olivier Sutter, Thomas Decaens, Jean‐Charles Nault
Abstract
BACKGROUND: At the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), more than 90% of HCC patients present cirrhosis, a clinical condition often associated to malnutrition. Sarcopenia is an indirect marker of malnutrition assessable on computed tomography (CT). AIM: To evaluate the prognostic value of sarcopenia in patients with HCC treated by trans-arterial (chemo)-embolization. METHODS: Patients with HCC treated by a first session of trans-arterial (chemo)embolization and an available CT scan before treatment were included. Sarcopenia was assessed using skeletal muscle index at baseline and at the first radiological assessment. Radiological response was recorded after the first session of treatment using mRECIST. RESULTS: 0.0004). CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia is associated with tumor progression and poor survival outcomes after trans-arterial (chemo)-embolization for HCC.