Chemotherapy-Induced Changes in Body Composition among Breast Cancer Patients: A Scoping Review

Abstract

The fundamental use of chemotherapy in breast cancer treatment leads to substantial body composition alterations which cause sarcopenia combined with fat deposition as well as body weight irregularities. Following chemotherapy, there are changes that impact the patient's tolerance as well as their overall health and prognosis. Such changes in body composition require precise understanding for the improvement of patient care and effective treatment development. This study used following databases, including PubMed, OVID and PEDro and the eligibility and screening process led to the selection of nine studies in the review. Nine studies examined weight and body composition changes during chemotherapy in breast cancer patients, revealed significant increases in body weight and fat mass. Notably, gaining weight while undergoing chemotherapy was linked to worse survival outcomes, such as a decline in overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Furthermore, sarcopenia has a detrimental effect on the results of chemotherapy, increasing toxicity and decreasing response to treatment. Comparative studies indicated that breast cancer patients experienced increase fat mass and decreased lean body mass during chemotherapy compared to controls without cancer, with these changes persisting after treatment. Patients receiving chemotherapy developed changes in their body composition that result in sarcopenia and fat mass gain. The alterations cause lower chemotherapy effectiveness and elevated chemotherapy toxicity levels. Understanding these changes is essential for patient assessment, therapeutic development and complication prevention.