Changes in body composition in men and women with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing chemotherapy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Men with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are more susceptible to weight loss than women. The composition and aetiology of these gender specific weight changes are not known. METHODS: Measurements of body mass, body composition and energy balance (resting energy expenditure and energy intake) were made in 15 men and six women before and after chemotherapy for NSCLC. RESULTS: Over the course of chemotherapy minimal weight change was observed in both men and women. Men increased body fat from 25.0 +/- 5.5 to 27.9 +/- 7.9% (P < 0.05) whereas fat free mass (FFM) tended to decrease (P = 0.063). There was no change in body fat or FFM in the women. In the men resting energy expenditure decreased over the course of chemotherapy from 113.2 +/- 15.9 to 105.1 +/- 10.1% of the value predicted from the Harris Benedict equation (P < 0.05). In the women resting energy expenditure (REE) did not alter. CONCLUSION: Over the course of chemotherapy for NSCLC, men and women appear to have different patterns of change in body composition and in energy expenditure.