Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Reduction in Patients with Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma and Peritumoral Collateral Vessels: A Retrospective Observational Study

Abstract

Background: peritumoral collateral vessels adjacent to renal cell carcinoma (RCC) can be encountered in clinical practice. Cancer cachexia is defined as a decrease of adipose and skeletal muscle tissues. In this study we evaluated, using a quantitative CT imaging-based approach, the distribution of abdominal adipose tissue in clear cell RCC (ccRCC) male patients with and without collateral vessels. Methods: between November 2019 and February 2020, in this retrospective study we enrolled 106 ccRCC male Caucasian patients divided into two groups: a ccRCCa group without collateral vessels (n = 48) and a ccRCCp group with collateral vessels (n = 58). The total adipose tissue (TAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) areas were measured in both groups. Moreover, the VAT/SAT ratio was calculated for each subject. Results: a statistically significant difference between the two groups was found in the SAT area (p < 0.05), while no significant differences were found in the TAT area, VAT area and VAT/SAT ratio. Conclusion: this study demonstrates a reduction of SAT in ccRCC patients with peritumoral collateral vessels.

Keywords

• adipocyte
• body composition
• collateral vessels
• computed tomography
• clear cell renal cell carcinoma
• imaging