Doxorubicin Combined With Ifosfamide for Sarcoma Induces Muscle Atrophy and Sleep Disruption

Abstract

Background/aim: There are no reports evaluating sleep disturbance and skeletal muscle loss in response to the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) with chemotherapy. This study investigated the effects of combined doxorubicin (DXR) and ifosfamide (IFM) on sleep and skeletal muscle.

Patients and methods: This retrospective cohort study included 14 patients with high-grade STS. Participants underwent five 7-day hospitalizations during which they received chemotherapy for 5 consecutive days. Sleep analysis and muscle-volume evaluation were investigated using a wearable device during hospitalization and by bioelectrical impedance analysis at each chemotherapy course.

Results: Chemotherapy significantly impeded sleep, increased wake-time after sleep onset, and aggravated movement index during hospitalization. In long-term body composition assessment, chemotherapy induced muscle-mass loss and fat-mass gain.

Conclusion: Combination of DXR and IFM for STS induces skeletal muscle loss and sleep disruption.

Keywords: Doxorubicin; ifosfamide; skeletal muscle loss; sleep disturbance.