Prognostic significance of nutritional markers in metastatic gastric and esophageal adenocarcinoma

Background Malnutrition and sarcopenia are poor prognostic factors in many cancers. Studies in gastric and esophageal (GE) cancer have focused on curative intent patients. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic utility of malnutrition and sarcopenia in de novo metastatic GE adenocarcinoma. Methods Patients with de novo metastatic GE adenocarcinoma seen at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre from 2010 to 2016 with an available pre‐treatment abdominal computed tomography (CT) were included. Malnutrition was defined as nutritional risk index (NRI)
In de novo metastatic gastric and esophageal adenocarcinoma patients, ECOG, pre‐treatment nutritional risk index (NRI) and change in NRI during treatment were significant prognostic factors for overall survival while sarcopenia was not. Use of NRI at baseline and during treatment can provide useful prognostic information.