Observational studyEuropean journal of pediatrics2026
CT-Based body composition and nutritional status as predictors of early-treatment chemotherapy-related infections and hematologic toxicity in pediatric cancer: a prospective study.
Observational study in European journal of pediatrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Sarcopenia Is Associated With Severe Treatment Toxicity and Mortality in Older Adults With Advanced Cancer: A Secondary Analysis.Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle · 2026Trial
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
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Abstract
Chemotherapy-related toxicity has been associated with body composition, yet there is no consensus on which CT-derived muscle parameter or handgrip strength (HGS) best predicts toxicity in pediatric cancer patients. This study evaluated whether CT-derived body composition parameters and nutritional status independently predict early chemotherapy-related infections and hematologic toxicity in children and adolescents with cancer. In this prospective observational cohort, patients aged 7-18 years undergoing chemotherapy with available CT/PET-CT scans were included. Anthropometric data (weight, height, arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness) and HGS were collected. At the third lumbar vertebra (L3), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), skeletal muscle index (SMI), total adipose tissue, and muscle radiodensity were measured; psoas area was assessed at L4. Associations were analyzed using χ2 tests and logistic regression adjusted for sex, age, tumor stage, and type. Forty-eight patients were included (mean age 12.6 ± 3.3 years; 64.6% male); 64.6% had hematologic malignancies and 53.6% had advanced disease. Most were classified as having normal nutritional status (50-64.6%). Hematologic (100%) and gastrointestinal (85.4%) toxicities were most frequent. Low SMM and SMI were correlated with a higher risk of infection (OR 4.20; 95% CI 1.23-14.27 and OR 3.92; 95% CI 1.17-13.20, respectively) and fever (OR 4.05; 95% CI 1.21-13.54 and OR 5.82; 95% CI 1.67-20.25, respectively). After adjustment, only low SMI remained independently associated with fever (OR 4.74; 95% CI 1.09-20.61; p = 0.038).
conclusionsLow muscle mass was associated with early infection and fever-related toxicity, suggesting a role of muscle quantity in immune function during pediatric cancer treatment. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Body composition in children and adolescents changes during chemotherapy is associated with treatment-related toxicity. • Muscle status is crucial for chemotherapy tolerance and treatment response. WHAT IS NEW: • Low skeletal muscle mass was associated with a higher risk of toxicities, including fever. • No association was found between anthropometric parameters, HGS and toxicities, indicating that further studies are needed.
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