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Letter
Correspondence on “Quality is more important than quantity: pre-operative sarcopenia is associated with poor survival in advanced ovarian cancer” by Polen-De et al
  1. Antonio Maccio1,2 and
  2. Clelia Madeddu3
  1. 1 Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
  2. 2 Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Brotzu, Cagliari, Italy
  3. 3 Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
  1. Correspondence to Professor Antonio Maccio, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato 09100, Italy; clelia.madeddu{at}tiscali.it

https://doi.org/10.1136/ijgc-2022-003916

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    Dear Editor,

    We read with interest the study by Polen-De and colleagues1 regarding the relationship of muscle quantity and quality with prognosis in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. They concluded that sarcopenia was associated with poorer survival, particularly among patients aged >60 years. We propose some considerations based on recent evidence plus our own research.

    Ovarian cancer represents an optimal model to explain the mechanisms of sarcopenia, evidenced by hypercatabolic processes induced by tumor-associated inflammation and age-related inflammaging, and in particular mediated by interleukin-6.2 Sarcopenia is part of the tolerance phase typical of advanced cancer, in which macrophages and pro-inflammatory cytokines play essential roles.3 However, this phase is reversible if chemotherapy or surgery reduces the tumor burden and, thus, inflammation. In this sense, we recently demonstrated that a decreased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio—a validated prognostic index indicative of the degreee of inflammation—during neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with an objective clinical response and is predictive of progression-free survival.4 Therefore, prognosis remains linked to therapeutic efficacy.

    In this regard, one notable finding in the article by Polen-De et al is that the group with the most sarcopenia and poorest prognosis also had the highest amount of residual disease. In the final multivariate analysis, skeletal muscle gauge was not predictive of mortality, but sub-optimal cytoreduction was. Then, sarcopenia/cachexia must be distinguished between responsive or operable patients and patients who are chemoresistant or not susceptible to radical surgery, as well as among different histotypes, which represent important prognostic factors.5 Ultimately, it is worth remembering that sarcopenia and cachexia are reversible, not pre-treatment conditions that preclude the maximum therapeutic intent. We believe sensitivity to chemotherapy, capacity for radical surgery, and histotype remain the primary prognostic factors.

    Logically, we agree that early simultaneous supportive care and pre-habilitation are essential.

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    References

    1. ↵
      2. Polen-De C ,
      3. Fadadu P ,
      4. Weaver AL , et al
      . Quality is more important than quantity: pre-operative sarcopenia is associated with poor survival in advanced ovarian cancer. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2022;32:1289–96.doi:10.1136/ijgc-2022-003387 pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35680140
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      2. Macciò A ,
      3. Oppi S ,
      4. Madeddu C
      . COVID-19 and cytokine storm syndrome: can what we know about interleukin-6 in ovarian cancer be applied? J Ovarian Res 2021;14:28.doi:10.1186/s13048-021-00772-6 pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33550983
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      2. Maccio A ,
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      4. Neri M , et al
      . Cachexia as evidence of the mechanisms of resistance and tolerance during the evolution of cancer disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021;22:2890.doi:10.3390/ijms22062890 pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33809200
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      2. Sanna E ,
      3. Tanca L ,
      4. Cherchi C , et al
      . Decrease in neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio during neoadjuvant chemotherapy as a predictive and prognostic marker in advanced ovarian cancer. Diagnostics 2021;11.doi:10.3390/diagnostics11071298 pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34359381
    5. ↵
      2. Macciò A ,
      3. Gramignano G ,
      4. Cherchi MC , et al
      . Role of M1-polarized tumor-associated macrophages in the prognosis of advanced ovarian cancer patients. Sci Rep 2020;10:6096.doi:10.1038/s41598-020-63276-1 pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32269279
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    Footnotes

    • Contributors All authors contributed to manuscript conceptualization, data analysis, draft manuscript writing, and manuscript revision. All authors approved the submitted manuscript.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; internally peer reviewed.

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