Abdominal Fat Density Predicts Colon Cancer Mortality
A recent analysis reveals that the density of visceral and subcutaneous fat, measured by CT scan before surgery, could indicate an increased risk of colon cancer-related death in patients with non-metastatic tumors. This finding is based on the examination of 293 individuals with stage II or III colon cancer, 34.5% of whom died from the disease.
Researchers used an AI-assisted volumetric analysis method to assess body composition from abdominal CT scan images. Among the many parameters studied, the average fat density, expressed in Hounsfield units, proved particularly revealing. A higher density of visceral and subcutaneous fat was associated with a greater risk of cancer-related death. This relationship was confirmed by in-depth statistical analyses, showing that visceral fat density remained an independent indicator, even after accounting for age, tumor stage, and the use of adjuvant chemotherapy.
The density of adipose tissue reflects its internal composition: increased density may indicate a reduction in lipid content and an increase in fibrosis, a sign of inflammation or metabolic dysfunction. These changes in fat, often linked to cardiometabolic disorders, could explain their impact on patient survival. Contrary to what one might think, it is not the amount of fat that influences the prognosis, but rather its quality.
The results also show that traditional indices, such as body mass index or muscle mass, did not have a significant link with mortality in this study. This suggests that fat density could be a more reliable marker than other commonly used measurements.
This innovative approach, based on automated image segmentation, allows for precise and reproducible assessment of body composition. It could facilitate the integration of this data into clinical practice without requiring additional examinations. The researchers emphasize that this method, already applicable within the standard patient follow-up framework, paves the way for more personalized medicine. It could help tailor treatments based on individual characteristics, particularly by targeting nutritional or metabolic interventions to improve the health of adipose tissue.
Survival analyses confirmed that patients with higher visceral and subcutaneous fat density had a less favorable prognosis. These observations reinforce the idea that the quality of adipose tissue plays a key role in the progression of colon cancer, regardless of the tumor stage.
Sources and Credits
Source Study
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-026-02232-x
Title: Body composition as a predictor of cancer-related death in colon cancer: an AI-based volumetric analysis
Journal: La radiologia medica
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Authors: Michela Polici; Benedetta Masci; Damiano Caruso; Stefano Nardacci; Lapo Nardoni; Fiammetta Pacelli; Marta Zerunian; Domenico De Santis; Paolo Mercantini; Enrico Fiori; Mariarita Tarallo; Maria Ciolina; Riccardo Ferrari; Sang Joon Park; Jong-Min Kim; Marco Francone; Andrea Laghi