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Research Article: The impact of sarcopenia and body mass index on treatment toxicity and survival in patients with extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma: a retrospective analysis

Date Published: 2026-07-29

Abstract:
Sarcopenia and body mass index (BMI) have been associated with treatment tolerance and prognosis in various malignancies; however, their clinical significance in extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) remains unclear. This study evaluated the impact of sarcopenia and BMI on treatment-related toxicities and survival outcomes in ENKTL. We retrospectively analyzed 347 patients with newly diagnosed ENKTL. Sarcopenia was assessed using sex-specific skeletal muscle index thresholds at the third lumbar vertebra level. BMI was categorized as underweight, normal weight, or overweight according to Asian-specific criteria. Associations with toxicities, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) were evaluated using regression and survival analyses. Sarcopenia was identified in 113 patients (32.6%) and was associated with adverse clinical characteristics. Compared with non-sarcopenic patients, those with sarcopenia had significantly higher risks of hematological toxicity (RR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.06–1.24, p = 0.001) and gastrointestinal toxicity (RR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.10–1.95, p = 0.009). Sarcopenia was associated with inferior OS (log-rank p = 0.004) and remained an independent predictor of mortality in multivariable analysis (aHR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.10–2.27, p = 0.013), but not of PFS (aHR = 1.31, 95% CI 0.93–1.84, p = 0.119). Underweight patients experienced the highest toxicity burden and poorest survival, whereas overweight patients showed the most favorable outcomes. Exploratory analyses suggested that patients with both sarcopenia and low BMI had the highest mortality risk. Sarcopenia is independently associated with poorer overall survival and increased treatment-related toxicity in ENKTL. Low BMI further identifies patients at increased risk of adverse outcomes. Incorporating body composition assessment into routine clinical evaluation may improve risk stratification and supportive care.

Introduction:
Sarcopenia and body mass index (BMI) have been associated with treatment tolerance and prognosis in various malignancies; however, their clinical significance in extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) remains unclear. This study evaluated the impact of sarcopenia and BMI on treatment-related toxicities and survival outcomes in ENKTL.

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