Unraveling the Impact of Sarcopenia-Induced Lymphopenia on Treatment Response and Prognosis in Patients with Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Insights for Optimizing Chemoradiation and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor

Joongyo Lee; Kyung Hwan Kim; Jina Kim; Chang Geol Lee; Jaeho Cho; Hong In Yoon; Yeona Cho

doi:10.4143/crt.2024.493

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Unraveling the Impact of Sarcopenia-Induced Lymphopenia on Treatment Response and Prognosis in Patients with Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Insights for Optimizing Chemoradiation and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor

Authors: Joongyo Lee ; Kyung Hwan Kim ; Jina Kim ; Chang Geol Lee ; Jaeho Cho ; Hong In Yoon ; Yeona Cho

Citation: CANCER RESEARCH AND TREATMENT, Vol.57(2) : 422-433, 2025-04

Journal Title: CANCER RESEARCH AND TREATMENT

ISSN: 1598-2998

Issue Date: 2025-04

MeSH: Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / complications ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / mortality ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / pathology ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / therapy ; Chemoradiotherapy* / adverse effects ; Chemoradiotherapy* / methods ; Female ; Humans ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors* / adverse effects ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors* / therapeutic use ; Lung Neoplasms* / complications ; Lung Neoplasms* / mortality ; Lung Neoplasms* / pathology ; Lung Neoplasms* / therapy ; Lymphopenia* / etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sarcopenia* / complications ; Sarcopenia* / etiology ; Treatment Outcome

Keywords: Immune checkpoint inhibitors ; Lymphopenia ; Non-small-cell lung carcinoma ; Radiotherapy ; Sarcopenia

Abstract: Purpose: Sarcopenia is a poor prognostic factor in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its prognostic significance in patients with NSCLC receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and its relationship with lymphopenia remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the prognostic role of sarcopenia and its effect on lymphocyte recovery in patients with stage III NSCLC treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) followed by ICI.

Materials and methods: We retrospectively evaluated 151 patients with stage III NSCLC who received definitive CCRT followed by maintenance ICI between January 2016 and June 2022. Sarcopenia was evaluated by measuring the skeletal muscle area at the L3 vertebra level using computed tomography scans. Lymphocyte level changes were assessed based on measurements taken before and during CCRT and at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months post-CCRT completion.

Results: Even after adjusting for baseline absolute lymphocyte count through propensity score-matching, patients with pre-radiotherapy (RT) sarcopenia (n=86) exhibited poor lymphocyte recovery and a significantly high incidence of grade ≥ 3 lymphopenia during CCRT. Pre-RT sarcopenia and grade ≥ 3 lymphopenia during CCRT emerged as prognostic factors for overall survival and progression-free survival, respectively. Concurrent chemotherapy dose adjustments, objective response after CCRT, and discontinuation of maintenance ICI were also analyzed as independent prognostic factors.

Conclusion: Our results demonstrated an association between pre-RT sarcopenia and poor survival, concurrent chemotherapy dose adjustments, and impaired lymphocyte recovery after definitive CCRT. Moreover, CCRT-induced lymphopenia not only contributed to poor prognosis but may have also impaired the therapeutic efficacy of subsequent maintenance ICI, ultimately worsening treatment outcomes.