Changes in body composition during adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer

The In Vivo Neutron Capture Analysis (IVNCA) technique was used to investigate the changes in body composition of patients with breast cancer receiving adjuvant CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil) chemotherapy, and to determine if cumulative protein catabolism was a sequela of such therapy. The body composition was determined by measurements of: TBN (total body nitrogen) and body fat. The total body water (TBW) (+bone) was calculated by difference in a four compartmental model. Results show that the weight gain during adjuvant CMF chemotherapy is due to a gain in TBW and TBF. Furthermore, the TBN was found to be constant, indicating the absence of cumulative cancer cachexia and protein catabolism arising from the chemotherapy.