Sarcopenia may influence the prognosis in advanced thyroid cancer patients treated with molecular targeted therapy

Abstract

Background/Aim: Reportedly, sarcopenia and nutritional status are associated with prognosis in cancer patients. However, data regarding the relationship of these factors with advanced thyroid cancer patients receiving molecular targeted therapy remains scarce. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between nutritional assessment, as well as sarcopenia, and prognosis in patients with advanced thyroid cancer undergoing molecular targeted therapy. Patients and Methods: In this retrospective study, sarcopenia and several markers of nutritional status were assessed in advanced thyroid cancer patients at the Kanazawa University Hospital, before the introduction of molecular targeted therapy. Results: Advanced thyroid cancer patients with sarcopenia presented a worse prognosis than those without sarcopenia. Additionally, sarcopenia strongly correlated with several markers of nutritional status, such as albumin, prognostic nutrition index, and Glasgow prognostic score. Conclusion: Sarcopenia could be a prognostic factor in patients with advanced thyroid cancer receiving molecular targeted therapy.