THE PROGNOSTIC ROLE OF SARCOPENIA IN WILMS TUMOR: DOES IT INFLUENCE
SURGICAL OUTCOMES AND SURVIVAL?
Abstract
Background: Sarcopenia (SP) is described as a prognostic factor
in adult and pediatric cancer patients. However, there is no data
regarding Wilms Tumor (WT). Our aim was to study the association between
sarcopenia and oncological outcomes in WT. Methods: A
retrospective study of patients diagnosed with WT at our institution
between 2010-2022 was performed. SP at diagnosis was assessed by
measuring the psoas muscle area (PMA) at the L4-L5 level on CT/MRI, and
was defined as z-score values <-2. Demographics, complications
and outcomes were analyzed. Results: Forty-eight patients (50%
male) were included, with a mean age of 44.91±31.12 months. Twelve
patients (25%) had SP at diagnosis vs. 36 (75%) who did not. Forty-one
patients (85.4%) underwent total nephrectomy and 7 (14.6%)
nephron-sparing surgery (NSS). No statistical differences were found in
demographics, risk group or treatment between the SP and non-sarcopenic
(NSP) groups. SP was associated with a higher rate of postsurgical
complications (33.3% for the SP-group vs. 5.6% for the NSP-group;
p=0.023) and with a higher rate of relapse (33.3% vs. 13.8%
respectively; p=0.09). With a median follow-up of 57.75 (1.87-150.8)
months, event-free survival (EFS) was lower for the SP-group
(84.20±17.45 vs. 135.40±8.65 months respectively; p=0,08). One patient
in the SP-group died. The 5-years overall survival (OS) was 89% for the
SP-group vs. 100% for the NSP-group. Conclusions: Among our
patients, SP can be considered as a risk factor for complications in
patients with WT and could be associated with poor outcomes, increasing
the risk of relapse and decreasing EFS.