The relationship between tumour necrosis, systemic inflammation, body composition and survival in patients with colon cancer (original) (raw)

Dolan, R. D. et al. (2025) The relationship between tumour necrosis, systemic inflammation, body composition and survival in patients with colon cancer.BJC Reports, 3(1), 7. (doi: 10.1038/s44276-024-00119-w) (PMID:39910331) (PMCID:PMC11799379)

Abstract

Background: In cancer cachexia the relationship between the tumour, its environment and the systemic inflammatory response is not clear. This study aims to examine this relationship in greater detail. Methods: Host characteristics included the presence of a Systemic Inflammatory Response (SIR) as measured by Systemic Inflammatory Grade (SIG), sarcopenia (SMI) and myosteatosis (SMD) were measured. Categorical variables were analysed using χ2 test for linear-by-linear association, or χ2 test for 2 by 2 tables. Survival analysis was carried out using univariate and multivariate Cox regression. Results: A total of 473 patients were included. Of these, 70.4% were over 65 years of age, 54.8% were male and 49.8% had an ASA grade of 1 or 2. Pathological examination showed that the majority of patients had a T3 (53.7%) or a T4 (34.0%) cancer and 73.0% had evidence of necrosis. A SIG score of 0 or 1 was present in 57.7% of patients. Tumour necrosis was associated with age (p < 0.01), tumour location (p < 0.01), T-stage (p < 0.001), margin involvement (p < 0.05), SIG (p < 0.001), SMI (p < 0.01), SMD (p < 0.05) and 5-year survival (p < 0.001). On multivariate survival analysis in patients with T3 cancers age (HR: 1.45 95% CI 1.13–1.86 p < 0.01), ASA grade (HR: 1.50 95% CI 1.15–1.95 p < 0.01) and SIG (HR: 1.28 95% CI 1.11–1.48 p < 0.001) remained independently associated with survival. Conclusion: These results suggest that tumour necrosis and the subsequent SIR could result in profound changes in body composition and survival. Further pre-clinical and clinical work is required to prove causation.

Item Type:	Articles
Additional Information:	This research was funded by the Chief Scientific Office (PCL/22/05).
Status:	Published
Refereed:	Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:	Horgan, Professor Paul and Richards, Mr Colin and Roseweir, Dr Antonia and Alexander, Mr Peter and McKenzie, Ms Molly and Thompson, Dr Joshua and Pennel, Dr Kathryn and McSorley, Dr Stephen and Roxburgh, Professor Campbell and Edwards, Professor Joanne and Black, Dr Douglas and Dolan, Mr Ross and Abbass, Mr Tanvir and McMillan, Professor Donald and McGovern, Mr Josh
Authors:	Dolan, R. D., Pennel, K., Thompson, J., McKenzie, M., Alexander, P., Richards, C., Black, D., Abbass, T., Maka, N., McGovern, J., Roseweir, A., McSorley, S. T., Horgan, P. G., Roxburgh, C., McMillan, D. C., and Edwards, J.
College/School:	College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
Journal Name:	BJC Reports
Publisher:	Nature Publishing Group UK
ISSN:	2731-9377
ISSN (Online):	2731-9377
Copyright Holders:	Copyright © The Author(s) 2025
First Published:	First published in BJC Reports 3(1):7
Publisher Policy:	Reproduced under a creative commons licence

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