Cancer Research and Treatment

Original Article

Lung and Thoracic cancer

Unraveling the Impact of Sarcopenia-Induced Lymphopenia on Treatment Response and Prognosis in Patients with Stage III Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer: Insights for Optimizing Chemoradiation and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor: Joongyo Lee, Kyung Hwan Kim, Jina Kim, Chang Geol Lee, Jaeho Cho, Hong In Yoon, Yeona Cho; Cancer Res Treat. 2025;57(2):422-433. Published online October 30, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2024.493

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Purpose
Sarcopenia is a poor prognostic factor in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its prognostic significance in patients with NSCLC receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and its relationship with lymphopenia remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the prognostic role of sarcopenia and its effect on lymphocyte recovery in patients with stage III NSCLC treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) followed by ICI.
Materials and Methods
We retrospectively evaluated 151 patients with stage III NSCLC who received definitive CCRT followed by maintenance ICI between January 2016 and June 2022. Sarcopenia was evaluated by measuring the skeletal muscle area at the L3 vertebra level using computed tomography scans. Lymphocyte level changes were assessed based on measurements taken before and during CCRT and at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months post-CCRT completion.
Results
Even after adjusting for baseline absolute lymphocyte count through propensity score-matching, patients with pre-radiotherapy (RT) sarcopenia (n=86) exhibited poor lymphocyte recovery and a significantly high incidence of grade ≥ 3 lymphopenia during CCRT. Pre-RT sarcopenia and grade ≥ 3 lymphopenia during CCRT emerged as prognostic factors for overall survival and progression-free survival, respectively. Concurrent chemotherapy dose adjustments, objective response after CCRT, and discontinuation of maintenance ICI were also analyzed as independent prognostic factors.
Conclusion
Our results demonstrated an association between pre-RT sarcopenia and poor survival, concurrent chemotherapy dose adjustments, and impaired lymphocyte recovery after definitive CCRT. Moreover, CCRT-induced lymphopenia not only contributed to poor prognosis but may have also impaired the therapeutic efficacy of subsequent maintenance ICI, ultimately worsening treatment outcomes.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Effects of Sarcopenia on the Outcomes and Safety of Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Durvalumab for the Treatment of Patients With Locally Advanced Non‐Small Cell Lung Cancer
Kentaro Tamura, Hidehito Horinouchi, Mototaka Miyake, Ken Masuda, Yuki Shinno, Yusuke Okuma, Tatsuya Yoshida, Noboru Yamamoto, Yasushi Goto
Thoracic Cancer.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Patient-related factors in advanced lung cancer: A review of ECOG-PS, malnutrition, and sarcopenia
Shun Matsuura
Respiratory Investigation.2025; 63(6): 1250. CrossRef

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