Hepatocellular carcinoma and sarcopenia: a narrative review

Sarcopenia (muscle wasting) is common in people with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Sarcopenia is associated with poor clinical outcomes in HCC patients, such as shorter survival and side effects of treatment. There is no specific drug for sarcopenia, but multimodal therapy and interdisciplinary work is feasible in daily practice. Comprehensive management should include nutritional counseling, exercise, and control of symptoms. Early identification, assessment, and therapeutic intervention are beneficial for HCC patients with sarcopenia. Further research is needed to identify effective treatments for sarcopenia and cachexia in HCC.

Authors: Revoredo S, Del Fabbro E

Published in: Annals of Palliative Medicine 2023