Accelerated loss of lean body mass in head and neck cancer patients during cisplatin-based chemoradiation

Background: This study investigated changes in body weight, lean body mass (LBM), fat mass (FM), muscle strength and functional performance during radiation treatment in head and neck cancer (HNSCC) patients. Secondly, it investigated the impact of cisplatin-based chemoradiation (CCRT) on LBM loss compared with radiation alone. Methods: 48 patients (all tumor sites) received either 6 weeks of radiation alone (n = 16) with 66–68 Gy in 33–34 Fx, 5-6 Fx/week or CCRT, adding weekly cisplatin or carboplatin (n = 32). LBM and FM was evaluated using Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry bi-weekly from pre- to two weeks post-treatment. Maximal muscle strength (knee extension, leg - and chest press) and functional performance (stair climb, chair rise, and arm curl) were assessed pre- and post-treatment. Results: Body weight and LBM had declined significantly already week 2 into treatment and declined significantly further through week 4 and 6 before leveling off after week 6. Bi-weekly, from treatment start to week 2, 2–4, and 4–6, LBM declined 1.2 ± 0.4 kg (p =.002; 95% CI: 0.4;2.0), 2.0 ± 0.4 kg (p <.0001; 1.2;2.8) and 1.4 ± 0.4 kg (p =.001; 0.6;2.2). With a two-week delay, FM declined significantly from week 2–8. All measures of muscle strength declined significantly from pre- to post-treatment. Functional performance was unchanged. LBM loss from pre- to post-treatment was significantly associated with impaired muscle strength (R ² = 0.3–0.5). CCRT patients lost 3.1 ± 0.8 kg of LBM (p =.0001; 1.5;4.7) more from pre- to post-treatment compared with patients receiving radiation alone. Analyses adjusting for nimorazole, tumor stage, baseline BMI, mean radiation dose to constrictor muscles and oral cavity confirmed this. Conclusion: Accelerated and substantial LBM loss was already initiated within the first two weeks of treatment - before the onset of radiation-induced mucositis. LBM loss was associated with muscle strength impairment. Patients receiving CCRT experienced significantly larger LBM loss than patients receiving radiation alone. Registered on clinincaltrials.gov (Identifier: NCT05890859).