Retrospective analysis of skeletal muscle density as predictive marker for pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy in TNBC

The predictive value of muscle-related indicators in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) or neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy (NACIT) is not clear. A retrospective study at The Catholic University of Korea (Seoul) found that the skeletal muscle density (SMD; assessed from CT measurements of the entire cross-sectional muscle area at the L3 level) reflected the physical reserve of TNBC patients receiving NACT or NACIT. Among the NACIT patients, high SMD was associated was associated with improved pCR rate and longer event-free survival. In the NACT group, SMD was not associated with pCR rate or survival. The authors conclude that SMD may serve as a predictive marker for NACIT efficacy.