Evaluation of the association of glucose uptake from visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues and chemotherapy toxicity in patients with gastric and colorectal cancer.

• Grant number: 24/03958-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2024
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: José Barreto Campello Carvalheira
• Grantee: Leo Victor Kim
• Host Institution: Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia (HEMOCENTRO). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/10265-8 - Cancer Theranostics Innovation Center (CancerThera), AP.CEPID

Abstract

Changes in body composition in cancer patients are associated with greater toxicity to cancer treatment and may affect its therapeutic response. Studies show that low muscle radiodensity (myosteatosis) in patients with colon cancer is correlated with increased toxicity to adjuvant treatment. Adipose tissue radiodensity is also associated with higher mortality rates in cancer patients and is positively correlated with greater glucose uptake, potentially indicating shifts from white to brown adipose tissue or increased inflammatory cell infiltration. This project aims to explore whether such changes in adipose tissue are associated with treatment toxicity. Hence, the main objective of the study to be conducted, of a retrospective and analytical nature, is to investigate the association between glucose uptake in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues, and the toxicity of treatment in patients with gastric and colorectal cancer treated at the outpatient clinic of oncology at the Clinical Hospital of UNICAMP (HC-UNICAMP). Specific objectives include characterizing patient demographics, oncologic treatment, toxicity, adipose tissue radiodensity, and glucose uptake, and correlating these parameters with Positron Emission Tomography with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET/CT) results. The sample will consist of adult patients diagnosed with colorectal carcinoma treated at HC-UNICAMP between 2000 and 2020, and data will be collected from medical records and stored on the REDCap platform. Body composition will be assessed using Computed Tomography (CT) images, analyzing the areas of adipose and muscle tissue from cross-sectional images at the level of the third lumbar vertebra (L3), with the aid of SliceOMatic software. Glucose uptake will be measured using FDG-PET/CT, focusing on tumor, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and skeletal muscle. Statistical analysis will include: descriptive analysis, regression analysis and significance tests, using Stata software. To sum up, the study in question aims to investigate the relationship between glucose uptake in adipose tissue (visceral and subcutaneous) and chemotherapy toxicity in patients with gastric and colorectal cancer, in order to understand more broadly the clinical response obtained in treatment of these diseases.