title: Skeletal muscle radio-density is an independent predictor of response and outcomes in follicular lymphoma treated with chemoimmunotherapy.
abstract: Skeletal muscle radio-density (SMD) measures muscle radiation attenuation (in Hounsfield Units, HU) on computed tomography (CT) scans. Low SMD is prognostic of poor survival in melanoma, however its significance is unknown for hematologic malignancies. We performed a single institution, retrospective review of all follicular lymphoma (FL) patients who received chemoimmunotherapy from 2004-2009. Patient demographics, FL International Prognostic Index 1 (FLIPI-1), progression free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were collected as primary endpoints. Objective response rates (ORR) were secondary. SMD was calculated using pre-treatment CT scans. In 145 patients reviewed, median values were age 59, FLIPI-1 of 2, stage III, and 8 chemoimmunotherapy cycles received. Median PFS for those with low SMD (<36.6 and <33.1 HU for patients with BMI ≤ 25 and > 25 kg/m2, respectively) compared to those with high SMD was profoundly worse, 69.6 vs. 106.7 months (hazard ratio [HR] 1.85; p = 0.01), respectively. Median OS was not reached in patients with high SMD vs. 92.7 months in low SMD patients (HR 4.02; p = 0.0002). Multivariate analysis supported lower SMD's OS detriment (HR = 3.40; p = 0.002) independent of FLIPI-1 (HR 1.46-2.76, p = 0.05) or gender. Low SMD predicted lower ORR, 83 vs. 96% (p = 0.01). SMD predicts survival independent of FLIPI-1 and potentially chemoimmunotherapy response. SMD is an inexpensive and powerful tool that can complement FLIPI-1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lieffers
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Sunita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Andrew R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Belch
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Neil S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Amelie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fontaine
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Randeep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sangha
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: A Robert
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Vickie E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Baracos
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Sawyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003710:Demography; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome