Skeletal muscle and visceral adipose radiodensities are pre-surgical, non-invasive markers of aggressive kidney cancer Journal Article


Authors: Furberg, H.; Bradshaw, P. T.; Knezevic, A.; Olsson, L.; Petruzella, S.; Stein, E.; Paris, M.; Scott, J.; Akin, O.; Hakimi, A. A.; Russo, P.; Sanchez, A.; Caan, B.; Mourtzakis, M.
Article Title: Skeletal muscle and visceral adipose radiodensities are pre-surgical, non-invasive markers of aggressive kidney cancer
Abstract: Introduction: Most studies on body composition in kidney cancer have been conducted among patients with metastatic disease. Given that aggressive tumours can adversely impact body composition and even non-metastatic tumours can be aggressive, we evaluated associations between pre-surgical body composition features and tumour pathological features in patients with non-metastatic clear cell renal cell cancer (ccRCC). Methods: The Resolve Cohort consists of 1239 patients with non-metastatic ccRCC who underwent nephrectomy at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center between 2000 and 2020. The cross-sectional areas and radiodensities of skeletal muscle, visceral adipose, and subcutaneous adipose tissues were determined from pre-surgical computed tomography (CT) scans at the third lumbar vertebrae using Automatica software. Pearson's correlation coefficients describe inter-relationships among BMI and body composition variables, while odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) estimate associations between continuous body composition features (per 1-standard deviation) and advanced stage (Stage III vs. Stages I–II) and high Fuhrman grade (Grades 3–4 vs. 1–2) from multivariable logistic regression models that considered the potential impact of biological sex, contrast enhanced CTs, and early age at onset of ccRCC. Results: The cohort was predominantly male (69%), white (89%), and had a median age of 58. The proportion of patients presenting with advanced stage and high-grade disease were 31% and 51%, respectively. In models that adjusted for demographics and all body composition variables simultaneously, decreasing skeletal muscle radiodensity (i.e., more fat infiltration) but increasing visceral adipose tissue radiodensity (i.e., more lipid depletion) were associated with advanced tumour features. Per 8.4 HU decrease in skeletal muscle radiodensity, the odds of presenting with advanced stage was 1.61 (95% CI: 1.34–1.93). Per 7.22 HU increase in visceral adipose tissue radiodensity, the odds of presenting with advanced stage was 1.45 (95% CI: 1.22–1.74). Skeletal muscle index (i.e., sarcopenia) was not associated with either tumour feature. Similar associations were observed for Fuhrman grade, a more direct marker of tumour aggressiveness. Associations did not differ by sex, contrast use, or age at onset of ccRCC. Conclusions: Lipid infiltrated skeletal muscle, but lipid depleted visceral adipose tissue were independently associated with advanced tumour features in non-metastatic ccRCC. Findings highlight the importance of evaluating the full range of body composition features simultaneously in multivariable models. Interpreting pre-surgical CTs for body composition for patients may be a novel and non-invasive way to identify patients with aggressive renal tumours, which is clinically relevant as renal biopsies are not routinely performed. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Keywords: adult; controlled study; human tissue; aged; middle aged; cancer surgery; major clinical study; clinical feature; histopathology; cancer patient; cancer staging; cancer grading; computer assisted tomography; tumor volume; lipid; cohort analysis; odds ratio; obesity; pathology; diagnostic imaging; retrospective study; tumor marker; renal cell carcinoma; kidney neoplasms; confidence interval; body mass; correlation coefficient; partial nephrectomy; preoperative period; radical nephrectomy; kidney tumor; carcinoma, renal cell; contrast enhancement; carcinoma in situ; multivariate logistic regression analysis; contrast medium; cross-sectional study; lipids; body composition; kidney cancer; grade; onset age; caucasian; skeletal muscle; muscle, skeletal; clear cell renal cell carcinoma; stage; radiological parameters; intra-abdominal fat; demographics; subcutaneous fat; tumor invasion; muscle mass; visceral adiposity; humans; human; male; female; article; sarcopenia; mskcc score; radiodensity; third lumbar vertebra
Journal Title: Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle
Volume: 15
Issue: 2
ISSN: 2190-5991
Publisher: Wiley Blackwell  
Date Published: 2024-04-01
Start Page: 726
End Page: 734
Language: English
DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.13429
PUBMED: 38263932
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC10995262
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- MSK Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748) acknowledged in PubMed and PDF -- MSK corresponding author is Helena Furberg -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Paul Russo
    581 Russo
  2. Oguz Akin
    265 Akin
  3. Abraham Ari Hakimi
    324 Hakimi
  4. Jessica M Scott
    70 Scott
  5. Andrea Knezevic
    106 Knezevic
  6. Emily Frances Stein
    3 Stein