Serum interferon-gamma-induced protein 10 levels can help predict sarcopenia development in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma: A retrospective cohort study

Background Sarcopenia is a prognostic factor in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanism underlying sarcopenia development in these patients remains unclear. The chemokine interferon-gamma-induced protein 10/C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (IP-10) has been found to be associated with muscle regeneration or destruction. Thus, we aimed to clarify the role of serum IP-10 levels in predicting sarcopenia development in patients with HCC. Methods This retrospective study enrolled 120 patients with primary HCC whose serum IP-10 levels were measured both at baseline and 1 year after the confirmed diagnosis of HCC. Patients who had sarcopenia at baseline computed tomography imaging were assigned to the Sarco-base group, whereas those in whom sarcopenia was found for the first time during the 3-year follow-up were assigned to the Sarco-develop group. Those who never met the criteria during the follow-up period were assigned to the Non-Sarco group. Results The baseline IP-10 levels were significantly lower in the Sarco-base group compared to the rest (88 vs. 110 pg/ml, p = 0.016). Conversely IP-10 levels and IP-10 ratio at 1 year after the confirmed diagnosis of HCC were lower in the Non-Sarco group compared to the rest (25 vs. 62 pg/ml, p < 0.001, 0.91 vs. 1.1, p = 0.044). Further comparisons between the three groups show that the baseline IP-10 levels were higher in the Sarco-develop group than in the Sarco-base (p < 0.001) and Non-Sarco (p = 0.0017) groups. Conclusions Patients with sarcopenia at baseline more frequently presented with low IP-10 levels than those without. Contrarily, the group without sarcopenia at baseline and with high baseline IP-10 levels and IP-10 ratios at 1 year were more likely to develop sarcopenia within 3 years. Monitoring of IP-10 levels may enable the identification of groups prone to develop sarcopenia in patients with HCC.