Purpose: To assess the change of body mass index (BMI), muscle mass, visceral and subcutaneous fat in patients with metastatic breast cancer.
Methods: In this retrospective chart analysis, patients with metastatic breast cancer as initial diagnosis between 2012 and 2016 were analyzed. Patients had received either chemotherapy (CTH) or endocrine therapy (ETH) according to the German S3 Guideline. BMI was calculated from the patients' weight and height. Change of muscle mass, visceral and subcutaneous fat was determined by comparing the surface area of these tissues on transverse CT images at the level of the third lumbar vertebrae (L3) at baseline and during treatment.
Results: A total of 45 patients were included in the study, 29 on CTH and 16 on ETH. BMI, visceral and subcutaneous fat remained stable over time for both treatment groups. When taking both treatment groups together, muscle mass decreased significantly by 5.0 ± 2.5 cm2 per year (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: In patients with metastatic breast cancer, a slight reduction of muscle mass was observed, independent of therapy regimes.
Keywords: Body fat; Body mass index; Breast cancer; Gynecologic oncology; Muscle mass.