Vakalou K, Dimaki A, Lazaridou L, Koumarelas KE, Schizas D, Christodoulidis G. Sarcopenia as a prognostic factor in gastric cancer patients undergoing gastrectomy: Implications for postoperative and long-term outcomes. World J Gastrointest Surg 2026; 18(10): 124479 [DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.124479]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Grigorios Christodoulidis, Department of General Surgery, University Hospital of Larissa, Mezourlo, Larissa 41110, Thessalia, Greece. gregsurg@yahoo.gr
Research Domain of This Article
Oncology
Article-Type of This Article
review-article
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Vakalou K, Dimaki A, Lazaridou L, Koumarelas KE, Schizas D, Christodoulidis G. Sarcopenia as a prognostic factor in gastric cancer patients undergoing gastrectomy: Implications for postoperative and long-term outcomes. World J Gastrointest Surg 2026; 18(10): 124479 [DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.124479]
Kalliopi Vakalou, Alexandra Dimaki, Lydia Lazaridou, Grigorios Christodoulidis, Department of General Surgery, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa 41110, Thessalia, Greece
Konstantinos Eleftherios Koumarelas, Department of General and Orthopaedic Surgery, Spitalverbund Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Herisau 9100, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Switzerland
Dimitrios Schizas, First Department of Surgery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, General Hospital of Athens “Laiko”, Athens 11527, Greece
Co-first authors: Kalliopi Vakalou and Alexandra Dimaki.
Author contributions: Vakalou K and Dimaki A contributed equally to this article as the co-first authors; Christodoulidis G designed the overall concept and outline of the manuscript; Lazaridou L, Koumarelas KE, Schizas D, and Christodoulidis G contributed to the discussion and design of the manuscript, the writing and editing of the manuscript, and the review of the literature; and all authors thoroughly reviewed and endorsed the final manuscript.
AI contribution statement: Portions of this manuscript were edited using AI tools solely for language refinement. The authors carefully reviewed and verified all AI-assisted outputs and take full responsibility for the scientific content of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Grigorios Christodoulidis, Department of General Surgery, University Hospital of Larissa, Mezourlo, Larissa 41110, Thessalia, Greece. gregsurg@yahoo.gr
Received: June 16, 2026 Revised: July 14, 2026 Accepted: July 27, 2026 Published online: October 27, 2026 Processing time: 114 Days and 11.8 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Sarcopenia is increasingly recognized as a clinically important predictor of outcome in patients undergoing gastrectomy due to gastric cancer. Reduced skeletal mass, muscle quality, and functional performance contribute to postoperative morbidity and long-term prognosis. Systemic inflammation and adipose tissue distribution also play a significant role. This review highlights the growing need for multidimensional assessment models that incorporate computed tomography-derived body composition markers as well as functional tests and markers of nutritional-inflammatory activity. Incorporating sarcopenia into preoperative risk stratification may improve patient selection. Finally, it may guide perioperative optimization and support more personalized surgical and oncological management.
