Cancer cachexia and myopenia - Update on management strategies and the direction of future research for optimizing body composition in cancer - A narrative review.

PURPOSE: Body composition degenerates with cancer. Optimizing body composition is rarely, if ever, undertaken. This narrative review highlights and evaluates emerging treatments that have the potential to improve outcomes for our cancer patients.

OBSERVATIONS: Body composition in cancer patients has been shown to be modifiable; enhanced body composition is associated with improved short term, long-term outcomes and survival in addition to improvements in function and quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: A multimodal approach to body composition optimization formulated by a multidisciplinary team in a patient-centric manner can improve outcome. As part of a multifaceted approach to patient treatment, body composition modification should be considered to expand our armoury in fighting the systemic burden of cancer.