Prognostic role of visceral fat for overall survival in metastatic colorectal cancer: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Body composition, has been established as a risk factor for colorectal cancer diagnosis and disease progression. Aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic role of adiposity, especially visceral fat (VAT), in patients (pts) with metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort of 71 MCRC pts treated between 2013 and 2017 was evaluated. VAT was measured as cross-sectional (cm2) area at the L3 level divided by the square of the height (m2). A ROC analysis was performed to define a prognostic threshold according to VAT. RESULTS: Before first-line therapy start, 40 pts (56%) had a body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m2. The obtained cut-off value for VAT was 44. Median OS was 30.97 months. At univariate analysis, primary tumor resection (HR 0.40, p = 0.029), VAT>44 (HR 2.85, p = 0.011) and metastasectomy (HR 0.22, p = 0.005) were significantly associated with OS. By multivariate analysis, VAT>44 (HR 2.6; p = 0.020) and metastasectomy were still significantly associated with OS. CONCLUSION: This exploratory study suggests a prognostic role for VAT in MCRC pts, with higher VAT values predicting worse outcome.

Ghrelin Plasma Levels After 1 Year of Ketogenic Diet in Children With Refractory Epilepsy.

The ketogenic diet (KD) is a high-fat, low carbohydrate nutritional treatment adopted in several countries for refractory epilepsy. However, the use of KD is limited by adverse events including growth retardation. In a previous investigation, we demonstrated that ghrelin is reduced in children maintained on KD for 3 months. As ghrelin regulates growth hormone (GH) secretion, it can be hypothesized that growth retardation depends on the reduced ghrelin availability. To assess this hypothesis, in this study we evaluate ghrelin and growth during 1 year of KD. We examined a small cohort of 6 children (2 males and 4 females, age range 3-10.4 years) affected by refractory epilepsy, who received the KD as add-on treatment. All patients were on drug polytherapy. Endpoints of the study were: (i) ghrelin plasma levels at 0, 15, 30, 90, and 365 days from KD onset, (ii) growth, and (iii) seizure control by ketogenesis. Ghrelin levels were -53 and -47% of basal levels, respectively, at 90 and 365 days (P < 0.05 for both). Mean height index z scores were reduced, but not significantly, by comparing basal values with those at the end of observation. Instead, body mass index z scores slightly increased. Ketosis induced by the KD was within 2-5 mmol/L and satisfactorily reduced the seizure frequency (>50%) in all patients. We show that ghrelin plasma levels are consistently reduced in children with refractory epilepsy and maintained on the KD. This change was associated with low growth indexes in the majority of patients.

Mucosal Injury during Anti-Cancer Treatment: From Pathobiology to Bedside.

Mucositis is one of the most common debilitating side effects related to chemotherapy (CT), radiation therapy (RT), targeted agents and immunotherapy. It is a complex process potentially involving any portion of the gastrointestinal tract and injuring the mucosa, leading to inflammatory or ulcerative lesions. Mechanisms and clinical presentation can differ according both to the anatomic site involved (oral or gastrointestinal) and the treatment received. Understanding the pathophysiology and management of mucosal injury as a secondary effect of anti-cancer treatment is an important area of clinical research. Prophylaxis, early diagnosis, and adequate management of complications are essential to increase therapeutic success and, thus, improve the survival outcomes of cancer patients. This review focuses on the pathobiology and management guidelines for mucositis, a secondary effect of old and new anti-cancer treatments, highlighting recent advances in prevention and discussing future research options.