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

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.