Weight loss correlates with macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 expression and might influence outcome in patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Weight loss during chemotherapy has not been exclusively investigated. Macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) might play a role in its etiology. Here, we investigated the prognostic value of weight loss before chemotherapy and its relationship with MIC-1 concentration and its occurrence during chemotherapy in patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

We analyzed 157 inoperable locally advanced or metastatic ESCC patients receiving first-line chemotherapy. Serum MIC-1 concentrations were assessed before chemotherapy. Patients were assigned into two groups according to their weight loss before or during chemotherapy: >5% weight loss group and≤5% weight loss group.

RESULTS:

Patients with weight loss>5% before chemotherapy had shorter progression-free survival period (5.8 months vs. 8.7 months; p=0.027) and overall survival (10.8 months vs. 20.0 months; p=0.010). Patients with weight loss>5% during chemotherapy tended to have shorter progression-free survival (6.0 months vs. 8.1 months; p=0.062) and overall survival (8.6 months vs. 18.0 months; p=0.022), and if weight loss was reversed during chemotherapy, survival rates improved. Furthermore, serum MIC-1 concentration was closely related to weight loss before chemotherapy (p=0.001) CONCLUSIONS: Weight loss both before and during chemotherapy predicted poor outcome in advanced ESCC patients, and MIC-1 might be involved in the development of weight loss in such patients.

• Authors: Zhi-Hao Lu, Li Yang, Jing-Wei Yu, Ming Lu, Jian Li, Jun Zhou, Xi-Cheng Wang, Ji-Fang Gong, Jing Gao, Xiao-Tian Zhang, Jie Li, Yan Li, Lin Shen
• Journal: Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP (Asian Pac J Cancer Prev) Vol. 15 Issue 15 Pg. 6047-52 ( 2014) ISSN: 2476-762X [Electronic] Thailand
• PMID: 25124572 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• GDF15 protein, human
• Growth Differentiation Factor 15

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (blood)
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (blood, drug therapy, mortality, secondary)
• Case-Control Studies
• Cohort Studies
• Esophageal Neoplasms (blood, drug therapy, mortality, pathology)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (blood)
• Humans
• Lymphatic Metastasis
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Staging
• Prognosis
• Survival Rate
• Weight Loss
• Young Adult