Grant: Project Grant

Osteosarcopenia is the loss of both muscle mass (sarcopenia) and bone mass (osteoporosis). Osteosarcopenia commonly occurs in cancer patients due to both the presence of cancer and as a collateral effect of cancer treatments (i.e. chemotherapy, chemical castration). Osteosarcopenia negatively impacts quality of life by decreasing activity levels and increasing the risk of falls and fractures. In fact, low bone mass and muscle mass correlate very strongly with overall resilience to illness and disease, and patients with more progressive osteosarcopenia are significantly more likely to have more treatment related complications and require more as well as prolonged hospitalisations. This proposal will study osteosarcopenia progression more holistically using a computer-vision based approach that will allow an accurate 3D assessment of both spine muscles and bone over time in both a preclinical model and in patients with prostate cancer. Our objectives are to confirm the accuracy of 3D image derived markers to measure osteosarcopenia progression and to use these markers to monitor changes in response to treatment and relate these changes to patient outcome. Improving the understanding of prostate cancer associated osteosarcopenia, its prevention, and its treatment will provide a foundation upon which we can optimize prostate cancer therapies in real time, and mitigate the onset and progression of osteosarcopenia to preserve patient's quality of life. This will optimise patient outcomes and healthcare resource utilisation.