Skeletal Muscle Mass Loss During Cancer Treatment: Differences by Race and Cancer Site.
Min K Jang, Chang G Park, Susan Hong and 4 others
PMID 32830799WHAT IT FOUND
Among 212 cancer patients, 67% lost skeletal muscle mass during treatment.
NHB patients lost more than NHW patients, and rectal cancer had the greatest loss.
Key findings
01Of 212 patients, 67% had decreased skeletal muscle mass during cancer treatment, while 33% improved.
02In regression models, NHB patients had 3.287 cm2/m2 more muscle loss than NHW patients.
03NHB patients with rectal cancer had the highest predicted loss, and NHB patients with breast cancer had the lowest.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
This was a retrospective analysis of patients who had serial CT scans at a single cancer center, so the sample may include more symptomatic or higher-risk patients than all cancer patients. The study did not include treatment details, such as chemotherapy regimen, so it cannot say whether treatment intensity explains the differences. It did not measure physical function, strength, nutrition, comorbidities, or social determinants, which may affect muscle mass. CT muscle area does not necessarily mean lower muscle strength or function. The study found associations, not causes, and it did not test whether monitoring or intervention changes outcomes.
Declared interests
The supplied text lists N.I.H. extramural research support as a publication type. It does not state author conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that NHB status or rectal cancer causes muscle mass loss. This was a retrospective single-center association, treatment was not measured, and CT muscle area does not necessarily mean lower strength or function.