ObjectiveTo identify factors predicting bone mineral loss during anticancer chemotherapy.MethodsFifteen women (mean age 38.2 ± 7.8 years; range 30–46 years) with ovarian cancer who had been treated with cisplatin-adriamycin-cyclophosphamide for six cycles every 4 weeks following surgical cytoreduction were studied. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine (L2-L4) was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry before and after chemotherapy. Fifteen age-matched women whose ovaries had been removed surgically for other reasons served as controls. None of the patients had received hormonal treatment. The two groups were compared for percentage change of BMD (BMD%) over the same period. In the chemotherapy group, total fat mass, body fat ratio, total lean mass, percent lean, and ratio of trunk fat to leg fat were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Lean loss during chemotherapy was also calculated. These variables were compared before and at the end of chemotherapy. Possible correlations of baseline variables with BMD% were determined in univariate and stepwise regression analysis.ResultsMean (± standard deviation) BMD decreased to 87.4 ± 2.1% after six cycles of chemotherapy and 97.6 ± 0.4% after 6 months in controls, but the greatest decrease was observed in the chemotherapy group (P< .001). Although baseline lean mass, baseline BMD, body weight, and lean loss during chemotherapy were correlated with BMD% in univariate analysis, baseline lean mass was still significant in stepwise regression analysis.ConclusionBaseline lean mass predicts bone mineral loss with anticancer chemotherapy.