2025 Targeted Therapies of Lung Cancer (TTLC) - Posters-PP01.14 Body Composition in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer treated with Immunotherapy

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The study explores the relationship between body composition metrics and survival outcomes in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy, which has brought significant advancements in cancer treatment. However, finding predictive biomarkers for ICI response remains a challenge. Previous research suggests a correlation between higher body mass index (BMI) and improved ICI responses, potentially linked to the immunological properties of adipose tissue.<br /><br />This retrospective study involved metastatic NSCLC patients who underwent at least two cycles of ICI, with or without chemotherapy. Researchers assessed skeletal muscle (SKM), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) indices via CT scans at the L3 vertebral level using deep learning software. Statistical analyses compared body composition metrics with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), utilizing various statistical tests and R software for data evaluation.<br /><br />Findings suggest that a higher baseline SAT index is associated with poorer survival outcomes in NSCLC patients treated with ICI, while no significant relationship was observed between BMI, SKM, or VAT indices and survival. The SAT index holds the potential to be a prognostic marker, though additional research is necessary to verify these results and to understand the underlying mechanisms.<br /><br />The study emphasizes the need for further investigations into how body composition changes over time during ICI treatment and its impact on clinical outcomes, potentially offering insights into the role of adipose tissue in treatment response. Conducted at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and partially supported by their Biostatistics Shared Resource Educational Voucher Program, this research contributes to the ongoing exploration of body composition’s influence on cancer therapy outcomes.

Asset Subtitle

Murtaza Ahmed

Keywords

NSCLC

immune checkpoint inhibitor

body composition

adipose tissue

survival outcomes

biomarkers

skeletal muscle

subcutaneous adipose tissue

prognostic marker

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center