Published online Feb 28, 2024. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i8.863
Peer-review started: December 20, 2023
First decision: January 6, 2024
Revised: January 16, 2024
Accepted: February 1, 2024
Article in press: February 1, 2024
Published online: February 28, 2024
The evolution and progression of gastric cancer (GC) is closely associated with the nutritional status of patients. The laboratory indices currently used to assess the nutritional status of patients have limitations.
The presence or absence of sarcopenia and myosteatosis are objective indicators of the nutritional status of patients, and muscle mass status influences the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy.
This study aims to investigate the effects of sarcopenia and sarcopenia on the clinical prognosis of patients with GC being treated with ICIs.
We studied 115 patients with GC who underwent ICI therapy between 2016 and 2022. The third lumbar vertebrae skeletal muscle cross-sectional area and the mean skeletal muscle density were assessed using 3D Slicer. We then analyzed the relationships of sarcopenia and myosteatosis with the prognosis of the patients.
Patients exhibiting sarcopenia and/or myosteatosis demonstrated poorer clinical outcomes, and nomograms formulated on the basis of these conditions had substantial prognostic value.
The presence of sarcopenia and/or myosteatosis was validated for the prediction of the clinical outcomes of patients with GC undergoing ICI therapy.
Screening for sarcopenia and myosteatosis should help identify patients with advanced GC who would benefit from treatment with ICIs.