Ricerc@Sapienza

The pathophysiology of cancer anorexia is complex and serum biomarkers, including growth and differentiation factor(s) (GDF), may be modulated. We explored the association(s) between GDF-15 serum levels and anorexia and, secondarily, with low muscle mass and body weight loss in cancer patients. We considered gastrointestinal and lung cancer patients (CP) and healthy BMI-matched controls. The FAACT-questionnaire was administered to diagnose anorexia and we calculated the L3-SMI by CT scan to assess low muscularity, setting their cutoff values at the lowest tertile.

Aims and methods: This multicenter retrospective study aims to evaluate the correlations between Body Weight Loss (BWL), Body Mass Index (BMI) and clinical outcomes (ORR, PFS, and OS) of advanced gastric cancer (aGC) patients treated with second-line ramucirumab-based therapy in a “real-life” setting. Results: From December 2014 to October 2018, 101 consecutive aGC patients progressed to a first-line chemotherapy were treated with ramucirumab alone (10.9%) or in combination with paclitaxel (89.1%). Median BMI was 21.2 kg/m2 and mBWL since first-line treatment commencement was 4.5%.