The prognostic value of skeletal muscle mass and density in breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational prognostic studies
PubMed 39370829 · doi:10.1080/14796694.2024.2402215
What was done
A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies in PubMed, Web of Science, SpringerLink, EMBASE, and Wiley up to September 25, 2023, evaluating the association between skeletal muscle mass/density and breast cancer outcomes. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) controlling for confounding variables were pooled using STATA 14.0 across 13 included studies (median age 48.2 years).
What was found
Sarcopenia was not significantly associated with survival (HR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.89–1.08) or recurrence (HR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.92–1.00) compared to absence of sarcopenia. No significant heterogeneity or publication bias was reported.
Why it matters
Contrary to findings in several other solid tumors, current evidence does not support skeletal muscle mass or density as a meaningful prognostic factor for breast cancer recurrence or survival.
Limits
The total number of individual participants was not reported in the abstract. As a review of observational studies, findings are susceptible to confounding, varying definitions or cutoffs for sarcopenia, and lack of reported subgroup breakdowns by tumor subtype or stage.
Cited by
- contradicts Low skeletal muscle mass in cancer patients is a critical driver of cancer recurrence and mortality.