The association between geriatric assessment, body composition measures, and treatment-related toxicity in elderly cancer patients: A prospective cohort study.

Authors

null

Shlomit Strulov Shachar

Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel

Shlomit Strulov Shachar , Gil Barsela , Avivit Peer , Mor Tal Moskovitz , Avital Bareket-Samish , Mira Wollner , Grant Richard Williams , Itamar Shafran , Amit Boukai

Organizations

Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel, Department of Oncology, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel, BioInsight Ltd., Binyamina, Israel, Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, Technion Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel

Research Funding

Other
Israel Cancer Association

Background: Treatment decisions in older adults with cancer are confounded by limited evidence due to their under-representation in clinical trials and as associations between geriatric assessment findings, body composition measures, treatment-related toxicity, and treatment effectiveness have yet to be fully elucidated. We investigated the relationship between geriatric assessment results, skeletal muscle measures, and treatment-related toxicity in older adults with cancer. Methods: This prospective single-center cohort study included patients with cancer > 65 years of age with advanced lung, breast, or genitourinary (GU) cancer who received systemic treatment (chemotherapy, biologic therapy, immunotherapy, or combination), and had available CT scans. Patients completed the Comprehensive Geriatric assessment (CGA) and 36-item Carolina Frailty Index (CFI) was calculated to classify them as robust ( < 0.2), pre-frail (0.2-0.35), or frail ( > 0.35). For each patient, skeletal muscle area (SMA) and density (SMD) were analyzed from CT scan L3 lumbar segments using Slice-O-Matic software. SMA and height (m2) were used to calculate skeletal muscle index (SMI). Skeletal muscle gauge (SMG) was created by multiplying SMI x SMD. Sarcopenia was defined as having SMI < 41 cm2/m2 for males and < 38 cm2/m2 for females. The associations between study variables and the occurrence of at least one adverse event (AE) grade ≥2 were analyzed using the Pearson's chi-squared test. The study was approved by the IRB of Rambam Health Care Campus. All patients signed an informed consent. Results: Overall, 51 patients (recruited between 5/2015 and 1/2020) were included in the final analysis. Median (interquartile [IQR]) age was 72 (68-76) years; 59% were male; 51%, 28%, and 22% had lung, breast, and GU cancer respectively. The most common treatment received was doublet chemotherapy (49%). All patients except 3 (6%) completed the CGA and CFI was calculated; 29%, 26%, and 39% were classified as robust, pre-frail, and frail, respectively. Median (IQR) SMG was 1251 (1104-1497) AU; median (IQR) SMI was 42 (39-48) cm2/m2; 31% were defined as sarcopenic. Overall, 45% of patients experienced at least one AE grade ≥2; 24% experienced at least one AE grade≥3. No statistically significant association was found between treatment-related toxicity and sex, age, tumor type, treatment, or CFI category. Yet, having low SMG (categorically, by tertile) was significantly associated with having at least one AE grade≥2 (p = 0.03) as was being sarcopenic (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Low SMG and sarcopenia are associated with treatment-related toxicity in older patients with cancer. Further research and better understanding of this association could help optimize treatment decisions (e.g., choice of regimen, dosing) and interventions in this population.

Disclaimer

This material on this page is ©2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology, all rights reserved. Licensing available upon request. For more information, please contact licensing@asco.org

Abstract Details

Meeting

2021 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Symptoms and Survivorship

Track

Symptom Science and Palliative Care

Sub Track

Geriatric Models of Care

Citation

J Clin Oncol 39, 2021 (suppl 15; abstr 12047)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2021.39.15_suppl.12047

Abstract #

12047

Poster Bd #

Online Only

Abstract Disclosures

Similar Abstracts

First Author: Meghan Connors

First Author: Dave Gregorio

First Author: Caitriona Goggin

First Author: Maria Regina Girones Sarrio