Skeletal Muscle Index–Based Cachexia Index as a Predictor of Prognosis in Patients With Cancer: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.

This article focuses on evaluating the prognostic value of the cachexia index (CXI) in patients with cancer through a meta-analysis of 14 retrospective studies involving 2,777 patients. The CXI, calculated as skeletal muscle index (SMI) multiplied by serum albumin level divided by neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), integrates muscle loss, nutritional status, and inflammation to assess cancer cachexia. Findings indicate that a low CXI is significantly associated with poorer overall survival, shorter progression/disease/recurrence-free survival, lower complete response rates, lower body mass index, lower SMI, lower serum albumin, higher NLR, and more advanced cancer stages. While the CXI shows promise as a quantitative marker for diagnosing cancer cachexia and predicting prognosis across various cancer types and stages, the article notes the need for further prospective studies to validate its clinical utility and establish standardized cut-off values.