Impact of body composition, grip strength, and physical performance on clinical outcomes for locally advanced gastric cancer during neoadjuvant chemotherapy: a prospective cohort study

Objective Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NC) is critical in treating locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC). However, the effect of body composition, grip strength, and physical performance during neoadjuvant chemotherapy remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the impact of these factors on perioperative clinical outcomes in LAGC patients undergoing NC. Methods A total of 162 consecutive patients receiving NC at two centers were prospectively registered between June 2022 and September 2023. The data on body composition parameters, grip strength, and physical performance during NC were collected, compared, and analyzed. The primary outcome was the tumor response after completion of NC. Results Overall, we included 92 LAGC patients. No significant changes were observed in body composition, grip strength, and physical performance after NC. The change in skeletal muscle index and grip strength were both significantly lower in the patients with poor tumor response. According to the Youden index, the cutoff values of △SMI and △grip strength were -2.0 and -2.8, respectively. Based on these 2 parameters, the area under the curve to predict tumor response was 0.817 (P < 0.001). Furthermore, VFI loss > 6.9 and 5-time chair stand test increase > 2.4 independently predicted postoperative complication (OR: 3.82, 95%CI: 1.138-12.815, P = 0.030; OR: 5.01, 95%CI: 1.086-23.131, P = 0.039; respectively). Conclusions For LAGC patients receiving NC, changes in SMI, VFI, grip strength, and physical status can predict perioperative clinical outcomes. These patients should be given special nutritional intervention.