Muscular Atrophy and Gastric Cancer Outcomes Investigated in New Study

A study published in the Turkish Journal of Surgery investigated the relationship between muscular atrophy, sarcopenia, and postoperative outcomes in patients with gastric cancer. Researchers from Marmara University found that patients with sarcopenia and myosteatosis, a condition characterized by low muscle density, had poorer surgical outcomes and shorter overall survival rates compared to those with normal muscle mass and density. The study emphasized the importance of preoperative evaluation and consideration of body composition in patients undergoing gastric cancer surgery.

Key Takeaways:

• The study included 237 patients with gastric cancer who underwent surgery, of which 87 (36.7%) had sarcopenia and 139 (58.6%) had myosteatosis.
• Patients with myosteatosis were characterized by older age, poorer preoperative nutritional status, inferior performance status, and extended hospital stays.
• Higher severe complication incidence was observed among patients with myosteatosis (18% vs. 10.2%, p=0.09).
• Patients with sarcopenia or myosteatosis had significantly lower overall survival rates than those with normal muscle mass or density (p=0.03, p=0.01).

Statistics:

• 36.7% of patients had sarcopenia.
• 58.6% of patients had myosteatosis.
• Patients with myosteatosis were 1.8 times more likely to experience severe complications (18% vs. 10.2%).
• Overall survival rates were 54.4% for patients with normal muscle mass, 41.4% for patients with sarcopenia, and 33.3% for patients with myosteatosis.

Sources:

• Turkish Journal of Surgery. 2025;41(3):227-234.
• NewsRx. New Findings from Marmara University Describe Advances in Muscular Atrophy. Cancer Weekly. September 16, 2025; p 1424.