Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
203,948 studies31 sourcesUpdated 55 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDReports of practical oncology and radiotherapy : journal of Greatpoland Cancer Center in Poznan and Polish Society of Radiation Oncology

Prognostic role of sarcopenia in anal squamous cell carcinoma treated with chemoradiotherapy: systematic review and meta-analysis.

  • Joanna Socha1,2
  • Łukasz Iwański1
  • Ewa Mazur3
  • Anna Dendek3
  • Joanna Jaśkiewicz3
  • Izabela Kaptacz4
  • Andrzej Domański5
  • Julia Domańska6
6 affiliations
  1. 1Faculty of Medicine, Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa, Czestochowa, Poland.
  2. 2Department of Radiotherapy, Regional Oncology Center, Czestochowa, Poland.
  3. 3Clinical Department of Internal Medicine and Angiology, Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa, Czestochowa, Poland.
  4. 4Department of Nursery, Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa, Czestochowa, Poland.
  5. 5Marshal Jozef Pilsudski Independent Public Healthcare Complex in Plonsk, Plonsk, Poland.
  6. 6Sergeant Grzegorz Załoga Independent Public Healthcare Institution of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration in Katowice, Katowice, Poland.
Read full textPDFDOICite

Abstract

Sarcopenia is a recognised prognostic factor in cancer patients treated with definitive radiotherapy, but its relevance in anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) is poorly defined. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of sarcopenia in ASCC and its association with treatment-related toxicity and survival outcomes in patients with ASCC treated with chemoradiotherapy. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to determine the effect of sarcopenia, defined by skeletal muscle index (SMI), on overall survival (OS) in patients with ASCC treated with chemoradiotherapy. Hazard ratios (HRs) for OS and disease-free survival (DFS) were pooled using an inverse variance random-effects model. Prevalence was estimated using random-effects meta-analysis of proportions with Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation. Toxicity outcomes were synthesised qualitatively due to heterogeneity in outcome definitions and reporting. Five retrospective cohort studies (n = 426) were included. The pooled prevalence of sarcopenia was 30% [95% confidence interval (CI): 21-41%]. Meta-analysis showed a strong association between sarcopenia and inferior OS (HR = 2.80, 95% CI: 1.59-4.94, p = 0.0004, I2 = 0%). No significant association was found for DFS. Qualitative synthesis indicated that sarcopenia was linked to severe haematological toxicity and to chemotherapy modifications, while no study demonstrated an effect on radiotherapy delivery. Sarcopenia affects approximately one-third of ASCC patients and is associated with a nearly threefold increased risk of death. Sarcopenia is linked to haematological toxicity and chemotherapy modifications, but not to radiotherapy interruptions. Prospective studies with standardised definitions and functional assessments are needed to clarify its prognostic role in ASCC treated with chemoradiotherapy.

Related

  1. Prognostic value of the Hippo signaling pathway in oral squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
    I. Lima, L. d. S. Bittencourt, P. G. Reinehr +2
    medRxivPreprintAll rights reservedFull textOncologymedRxiv
  2. Transcriptomic immune-related signature associated with chemoradiotherapy response in anal squamous cell carcinoma
    Soledad Iseas, Mariano Golubicki, Ezequiel Lacunza +7
    Scientific ReportsPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Full textSurgery & anaesthesiaCrossref
  3. Prognostic Value of Tumor Budding and Worst Pattern of Invasion in Clinically Node-Negative Early-Stage Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review
    Mădălina Anca Moldovan, Laura-Veronica Filip, Cristian Niky Cumpată +3
    Journal of Clinical MedicinePeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textGeneral medicineCrossrefEurope PMC
  4. Salvage gastrectomy for perforated gastric intramural metastasis after definitive chemoradiotherapy for distal esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a case report.
    Jirat Leelapatanadit, Sawanya Sangthong, Rawat Waratchanont +3
    Journal of surgical case reportsPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textSurgery & anaesthesiaEurope PMC
  5. Definitive Chemoradiotherapy for Cervical Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Single-institution Retrospective Study.
    Atsuto Katano, Hideomi Yamashita
    Cancer diagnosis & prognosisPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDFull textSurgery & anaesthesiaEurope PMCPMC

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{socha2026prognostic,
  title = {{Prognostic role of sarcopenia in anal squamous cell carcinoma treated with chemoradiotherapy: systematic review and meta-analysis.}},
  author = {Joanna Socha and Łukasz Iwański and Ewa Mazur and Anna Dendek and Joanna Jaśkiewicz and Izabela Kaptacz and Andrzej Domański and Julia Domańska},
  journal = {Reports of practical oncology and radiotherapy : journal of Greatpoland Cancer Center in Poznan and Polish Society of Radiation Oncology},
  year = {2026},
  month = nov,
  doi = {10.5603/rpor.113087},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42997869},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Prognostic role of sarcopenia in anal squamous cell carcinoma treated with chemoradiotherapy: systematic review and meta-analysis.
AU  - Joanna Socha
AU  - Łukasz Iwański
AU  - Ewa Mazur
AU  - Anna Dendek
AU  - Joanna Jaśkiewicz
AU  - Izabela Kaptacz
AU  - Andrzej Domański
AU  - Julia Domańska
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/11/01
JO  - Reports of practical oncology and radiotherapy : journal of Greatpoland Cancer Center in Poznan and Polish Society of Radiation Oncology
DO  - 10.5603/rpor.113087
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42997869
AB  - Sarcopenia is a recognised prognostic factor in cancer patients treated with definitive radiotherapy, but its relevance in anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) is poorly defined. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of sarcopenia in ASCC and its association with treatment-related toxicity and survival outcomes in patients with ASCC treated with chemoradiotherapy. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to determine the effect of sarcopenia, defined by skeletal muscle index (SMI), on overall survival (OS) in patients with ASCC treated with chemoradiotherapy. Hazard ratios (HRs) for OS and disease-free survival (DFS) were pooled using an inverse variance random-effects model. Prevalence was estimated using random-effects meta-analysis of proportions with Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation. Toxicity outcomes were synthesised qualitatively due to heterogeneity in outcome definitions and reporting. Five retrospective cohort studies (n = 426) were included. The pooled prevalence of sarcopenia was 30% [95% confidence interval (CI): 21-41%]. Meta-analysis showed a strong association between sarcopenia and inferior OS (HR = 2.80, 95% CI: 1.59-4.94, p = 0.0004, I2 = 0%). No significant association was found for DFS. Qualitative synthesis indicated that sarcopenia was linked to severe haematological toxicity and to chemotherapy modifications, while no study demonstrated an effect on radiotherapy delivery. Sarcopenia affects approximately one-third of ASCC patients and is associated with a nearly threefold increased risk of death. Sarcopenia is linked to haematological toxicity and chemotherapy modifications, but not to radiotherapy interruptions. Prospective studies with standardised definitions and functional assessments are needed to clarify its prognostic role in ASCC treated with chemoradiotherapy.
SN  - 1507-1367
SN  - 2083-4640
ER  -