Revisiting the prognostic relevance of muscle mass among non-metastatic colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer represents a global health problem, particularly as the general population continues to age. Currently, it ranks as the third most common cause of cancer mortality worldwide (1). To assist with clinical management, colorectal cancer is frequently categorized according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system that considers tumor extent, nodal involvement, and presence of metastasis (2). Staging helps to stratify patients into different risk levels of cancer recurrence and survival. In doing so, it informs the appropriate use of systemic therapy and represents one major example of a tailored and risk-adjusted approach to guide the treatment of early stage colorectal cancer patients.