Osteosarcopenia as a Predictor of Histopathologic Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Esophageal Cancer: a Retrospective Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: Predicting chemoradiotherapy (CRT) response in esophageal cancer is essential as outcomes vary among patients. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of osteosarcopenia on the effectiveness of neoadjuvant CRT (NACRT).

METHODS

Ninety-five patients with advanced esophageal cancer who underwent surgical resection post-NACRT were included. Sarcopenia and osteopenia were determined using pre-NACRT skeletal muscle index and bone density at L3 and Th11 levels. Patients were categorized based on osteosarcopenia status.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven patients (39%) had osteosarcopenia. Among tumors, 49 (51.6%) were grade 1 (non-responders), 12 (12.6%) were grade 2, and 34 (35.8%) were grade 3 (responders). NACRT was significantly more effective in patients with above-median body mass index, shallow tumor depth, low squamous cell carcinoma antigen levels, and without osteosarcopenia. Osteosarcopenia was independently correlated with the histopathologic response to NACRT. No significant differences in overall or relapse-free survival were observed based on osteosarcopenia status.

CONCLUSION

Osteosarcopenia may predict NACRT response in esophageal cancer.