The following is a summary of “Association between preoperative sarcopenia and prognosis of pancreatic cancer after curative-intent surgery: a updated systematic review and meta-analysis,” published in the January 2024 issue of Oncology by Liu et al.

In this meta-analysis, researchers aimed to elucidate the prognostic significance of preoperative sarcopenia in patients undergoing curative-intent surgery for pancreatic cancer. Their comprehensive search of databases, including PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, yielded 23 retrospective studies involving 5888 patients. The analysis revealed a significant association between preoperative sarcopenia and adverse outcomes, as indicated by worse overall survival (HR = 1.53, P < 0.00001) and progression-free survival (PFS) (HR = 1.55, P < 0.00001). However, this association was not evident in the incidence of major complications (OR = 1.33, P = 0.11). 

The findings underscore the preliminary evidence supporting the link between preoperative sarcopenia and a dismal prognosis in pancreatic cancer post-surgery. Nevertheless, the strength of this relationship necessitates further validation through prospective studies to enhance their understanding and clinical applicability.

Source: wjso.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12957-024-03310-y