Association of Obesity with Breast Cancer Outcome in Relation to Cancer Subtypes: A Meta-Analysis

Intermittent Fasting Attenuates Obesity-Induced Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Progression by Disrupting Cell Cycle, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, Immune Contexture, and Proinflammatory Signature

Obesity is associated with one-fifth of cancer deaths, and breast cancer is one of the obesity-related cancers. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks estrogen and progesterone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, leading to the absence of these therapeutic targets, followed by poor overall survival. We investigated if obesity could hasten TNBC progression and intermittent fasting (IF) could attenuate the progression of obesity-related TNBC. Our meta-analysis of the TNBC outcomes literature showed that obesity led to poorer overall survival in TNBC patients. Fasting-mimicking media reduced cell proliferation disrupted the cell cycle, and decreased cell migration and invasion. IF decreased body weight in obese mice but no change in normal mice. Obese mice exhibited elevated plasma glucose and cholesterol levels, increased tumor volume and weight, and enhanced macrophage accumulation in tumors. The obesity-exacerbated TNBC progression was attenuated after IF, which decreased cyclin B1 and vimentin levels and reduced the proinflammatory signature in the obesity-associated tumor microenvironment. IF attenuated obesity-induced TNBC progression through reduced obesity and tumor burdens in cell and animal experiments, supporting the potential of a cost-effective adjuvant IF therapy for TNBC through lifestyle change. Further evidence is needed of these IF benefits in TNBC, including from human clinical trials.

Ovarian function recovery in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant anastrozole treatment: updated results from the phase 3 DATA trial

PURPOSE

Patients with chemotherapy-induced ovarian function failure (CIOFF) may experience ovarian function recovery (OFR). Earlier, we showed that OFR during treatment with anastrozole impacted the prognosis of hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer (BC) patients with CIOFF. Here, we present the long-term follow-up results.

METHODS

Postmenopausal women with HR+ BC who were 45-57 years of age and received chemotherapy were identified from the phase 3 DATA study (NCT00301457) on the extended use of anastrozole. Eligible patients were categorised into two groups: patients with CIOFF and definitely postmenopausal patients. Patients with CIOFF were monitored for OFR. Disease-free survival (DFS), distant recurrence-free survival (DRFS), and overall survival (OS) were compared between patients with OFR and patients without OFR using multivariable Cox regression analyses, including OFR as a time-dependent covariate. BC-specific mortality (BCSM) was compared between groups using the Fine and Gray method.

RESULTS

This study included 656 patients: 395 patients with CIOFF and 261 definitely postmenopausal patients. OFR occurred in 39 (12%) of 329 patients with CIOFF who were monitored for OFR. The median follow-up time was 13.3 years. Patients with OFR experienced a deterioration in DFS (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.54; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.85-2.81), DRFS (HR = 1.51; 95% CI 0.73-3.11), OS (HR = 1.64; 95% CI 0.75-3.55), and BCSM (subdistribution HR = 1.98; 95% CI 0.84-4.63) when compared with patients without OFR.

CONCLUSION

In patients with CIOFF, OFR during treatment with anastrozole was associated with a deterioration in BC outcomes. These findings underscore the importance of adequate ovarian function suppression in this subgroup of patients.

Association between body mass index and lymph node metastasis among women with cervical cancer: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Lymph node status is a determinant of survival in patients with early-stage cervical cancer. However, the relationship between obesity and lymph node status remains unclear. Therefore, this systematic review aims to evaluate the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and lymph node metastasis in cervical cancer.

METHODS

Cohort studies through six databases were reviewed until December 2021. Odds ratios (ORs) for lymphatic metastasis were estimated using random-effects models and network meta-analysis. BMI groups for lymph node metastasis were ranked. Heterogeneities were assessed using I2. Subgroup analyses were performed to determine possible sources of heterogeneity.

RESULTS

No significant difference was found between obese (BMI ≥ 25) and non-obese patients (BMI < 25) (OR = 1.01; 95% CI 0.69-1.47; P = 0.97). In subgroup analyses, obesity was associated with higher risk among the Americans and advanced-stage patients. The grouping analysis based on BMI and the rankogram values revealed that the '35 ≤ BMI' group had the highest risk of lymph node metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Although there were no significant differences in lymph node metastasis between obese and non-obese cervical cancer patients in overall analysis, patients with BMI ≥ 35 were at significantly higher risk of lymph node metastasis.

Combined Aerobic and Resistance Training Improves Body Composition, Alters Cardiometabolic Risk, and Ameliorates Cancer-Related Indicators in Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors with Overweight/Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Breast cancer survivors with obesity are at a high risk of cancer recurrence, comorbidity, and mortality. This review aims to systematically evaluate the effects of combined aerobic and resistance training (CART) on body composition, lipid homeostasis, inflammation, adipokines, cancer-related fatigue, sleep, and quality of life in breast cancer patients and survivors with overweight/obesity. An electronic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Cochrane, and Google Scholar databases from inception up to January 8, 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) meeting the inclusion criteria were selected for the analysis. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess eligible studies, and the GRADE method to evaluate the quality of evidence. A random-effects model was used, and data were analyzed using mean (MD) and standardized mean differences (SMD) for continuous variables with 95% confidence intervals (CI). We assessed the data for risk of bias, heterogeneity, sensitivity, reporting bias, and quality of evidence. A total of 17 randomized controlled trials were included in the systematic review involving 1,148 female patients and survivors (mean age: 54.0 ± 3.4 years). The primary outcomes showed significant improvements in body mass index (SMD -0.57 kg/m2, p = 0.04), body fat (SMD -0.50%, p = 0.02), fat mass (SMD -0.63 kg, p = 0.04), hip circumference (MD -3.14 cm, p = 0.02), and fat-free mass (SMD 1.03 kg, p < 0.001). The secondary outcomes indicated significant increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (MD -0.05 mmol/L, p = 0.008), natural killer cells (SMD 0.42%, p = 0.04), reductions in triglycerides (MD -81.90 mg/dL, p < 0.01), total cholesterol (SMD -0.95 mmol/L, p < 0.01), tumor necrosis factor α (SMD -0.89 pg/mL, p = 0.03), and leptin (SMD -0.63 ng/mL, p = 0.03). Also, beneficial alterations were found in cancer-related fatigue (SMD -0.98, p = 0.03), sleep (SMD -1.17, p < 0.001), and quality of life (SMD 2.94, p = 0.02) scores. There was very low to low confidence in the estimated effect of most of the outcomes. The present findings reveal that CART could be considered an adjunct therapy in supporting the conventional clinical approach observed following exercise. However, further high-quality research is needed to evaluate whether CART would be a valuable intervention to lower aggressive pharmacologic use in breast cancer patients with overweight/obesity.

Reporting on patient's body mass index (BMI) in recent clinical trials for patients with breast cancer: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

The proportion of patients with breast cancer and obesity is increasing. While the therapeutic landscape of breast cancer has been expanding, we lack knowledge about the potential differential efficacy of most drugs according to the body mass index (BMI). Here, we conducted a systematic review on recent clinical drug trials to document the dosing regimen of recent drugs, the reporting of BMI and the possible exclusion of patients according to BMI, other adiposity measurements and/or diabetes (leading comorbidity of obesity). We further explored whether treatment efficacy was evaluated according to BMI.

METHODS

A search of Pubmed and ClinicalTrials.gov was performed to identify phase I-IV trials investigating novel systemic breast cancer treatments. Dosing regimens and exclusion based on BMI, adiposity measurements or diabetes, documentation of BMI and subgroup analyses according to BMI were assessed.

RESULTS

495 trials evaluating 26 different drugs were included. Most of the drugs (21/26, 81%) were given in a fixed dose independent of patient weight. BMI was an exclusion criterion in 3 out of 495 trials. Patients with diabetes, the leading comorbidity of obesity, were excluded in 67/495 trials (13.5%). Distribution of patients according to BMI was mentioned in 8% of the manuscripts, subgroup analysis was performed in 2 trials. No other measures of adiposity/body composition were mentioned in any of the trials. Retrospective analyses on the impact of BMI were performed in 6 trials.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient adiposity is hardly considered as most novel drug treatments are given in a fixed dose. BMI is generally not reported in recent trials and few secondary analyses are performed. Given the prevalence of patients with obesity and the impact obesity can have on pharmacokinetics and cancer biology, more attention should be given by investigators and study sponsors to reporting patient's BMI and evaluating its impact on treatment efficacy and toxicity.

New Horizons: Epidemiology of Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, and Cancer Prognosis

The global prevalence of obesity and diabetes mellitus has increased in parallel with increasing cancer incidence, due to environmental and lifestyle factors and population aging. Metabolic diseases are associated with increased cancer risk, so a growing number of patients with cancer have coexistent obesity and/or diabetes mellitus. In this narrative review, we highlight recent evidence on the clinical impact of obesity and diabetes mellitus on the prognosis of prostate, breast, and colorectal cancer, and provide an overview of the underlying mechanisms. There is evidence that obesity is associated with increased risk of recurrence, and all-cause and cancer-specific mortality among adults with prostate, breast, and colorectal cancer. Diabetes mellitus is associated with increased all-cause and cancer-specific mortality for these 3 cancers, beyond any impact of obesity. Evidence also suggests increased risk of colorectal cancer recurrence in patients with diabetes mellitus. The underlying mechanisms are multifactorial and likely include hormonal imbalances and chronic inflammation that promote cancer cell growth. Obesity and diabetes mellitus are associated with increased risk of complications and side effects of cancer treatment. Associated comorbidities such as impaired kidney function, cardiovascular disease, and neuropathies may preclude the use of guideline cancer treatment and are competing causes of death. Cancer patients with metabolic diseases require a designated clinical program and a multidisciplinary approach involving oncologists, endocrinologists, surgeons, nutritionists, and physiotherapists, to ensure coordinated and optimized patient care.

The impact of BMI on breast cancer - an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the most frequent form of cancer in women all over the world. It is the main cause of cancer death and the most often diagnosed cancer in women in 140 of the world's 184 countries. The link between breast cancer risk and body mass index (BMI) has gotten increasing attention in recent years, although the results are still debatable. Therefore, the current systematic review and meta-analysis evaluate the impact of BMI on breast cancer.

METHODS

The current study was carried out as a systematic review and meta-analysis, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We systematically searched Cochrane, Google Scholar, PubMed, EMBASE and Scopus databases to identify eligible articles impact of BMI on breast cancer with the appropriate Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). The Newcastle-Ottawa checklist was used for the risk of assessment for the included studies. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3 software.

RESULTS

Forty-six studies were included in the current review, which met the selection criteria of the current review. Among included 46 studies in this review, 50% (n = 23) of the studies found the HER2 type of breast cancer followed by triple-negative and HR-positive. The obesity was significantly higher in the case group compared with the control group (P < .001). Heterogeneity between the 14 studies is medium (I2 = 72%). In this review, there was no significant relation between overweight and breast cancer in women (P > .05). Heterogenecity between the 14 studies is medium (I2 = 89%). However, after removing the publication bias a significant relation between overweightness and breast cancer in women (P = .0005) was observed.

CONCLUSION

Obese breast cancer patients are a specific type of patient. They are more likely to develop cancer. Their need to surgery and radiation may cause greater difficulties. Obesity and overweight in women greatly increase the risk of breast cancer, according to the findings of the current meta-analysis. To confirm these findings and understand the pathogenic pathways, more research is required.

Nonmetastatic Axillary Lymph Nodes Have Distinct Morphology and Immunophenotype in Obese Patients with Breast Cancer at Risk for Metastasis

Obese patients with breast cancer have worse outcomes than their normal weight counterparts, with a 50% to 80% increased rate of axillary nodal metastasis. Recent studies suggest a link between increased lymph node adipose tissue and breast cancer nodal metastasis. Further investigation into potential mechanisms underlying this link may reveal potential prognostic utility of fat-enlarged lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer. This study used a deep learning model to identify morphologic differences in nonmetastatic axillary nodes between obese, node-positive, and node-negative patients with breast cancer. The model was developed using nested cross-validation on 180 cases and achieved an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of 0.67 in differentiating patients using hematoxylin and eosin-stained whole slide images. The morphologic analysis of the predictive regions showed an increased average adipocyte size (P = 0.004), increased white space between lymphocytes (P < 0.0001), and increased red blood cells (P < 0.001) in nonmetastatic lymph nodes of node-positive patients. Preliminary immunohistochemistry analysis on a subset of 30 patients showed a trend of decreased CD3 expression and increased leptin expression in fat-replaced axillary lymph nodes of obese, node-positive patients. These findings suggest a novel direction to further investigate the interaction between lymph node adiposity, lymphatic dysfunction, and breast cancer nodal metastases, highlighting a possible prognostic tool for obese patients with breast cancer.

The prognostic impact of BMI in patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer: a study of the SONABRE registry

PURPOSE

This study determines the prognostic impact of body mass index (BMI) in patients with hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-negative (HR+/HER2-) advanced (i.e., metastatic) breast cancer (ABC).

METHODS

All patients with HR+/HER2- ABC who received endocrine therapy +-a cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor as first-given systemic therapy in 2007-2020 in the Netherlands were identified from the Southeast Netherlands Advanced Breast Cancer (SONABRE) registry (NCT03577197). Patients were categorised as underweight (BMI: < 18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m2), or obese (≥ 30.0 kg/m2). Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were compared between BMI classes using multivariable Cox regression analyses.

RESULTS

This study included 1456 patients, of whom 35 (2%) were underweight, 580 (40%) normal weight, 479 (33%) overweight, and 362 (25%) obese. No differences in OS were observed between normal weight patients and respectively overweight (HR 0.99; 95% CI 0.85-1.16; p = 0.93) and obese patients (HR 1.04; 95% CI 0.88-1.24; p = 0.62). However, the OS of underweight patients (HR 1.45; 95% CI 0.97-2.15; p = 0.07) tended to be worse than the OS of normal weight patients. When compared with normal weight patients, the PFS was similar in underweight (HR 1.05; 95% CI 0.73-1.51; p = 0.81), overweight (HR 0.90; 95% CI 0.79-1.03; p = 0.14), and obese patients (HR 0.88; 95% CI 0.76-1.02; p = 0.10).

CONCLUSION

In this study among 1456 patients with HR+/HER2- ABC, overweight and obesity were prevalent, whereas underweight was uncommon. When compared with normal weight, overweight and obesity were not associated with either OS or PFS. However, underweight seemed to be an adverse prognostic factor for OS.

The Effectiveness of Metabolic Bariatric Surgery in Preventing Gynecologic Cancer - from Pathophysiology to Clinical Outcomes

Obesity and cancer represent two pandemics of current civilization, the progression of which has followed parallel trajectories. To time, thirteen types of malignancies have been recognized as obesity-related cancers, including breast (in postmenopausal women), endometrial, and ovarian cancer. Pathophysiologic mechanisms that connect the two entities include insulin resistance, adipokine imbalance, increased peripheral aromatization and estrogen levels, tissue hypoxia, and disrupted immunity in the cellular milieu. Beyond the connection of obesity to carcinogenesis at a molecular and cellular level, clinicians should always be cognizant of the fact that obesity might have secondary impacts on the diagnosis and treatment of gynecologic cancer, including limited access to effective screening programs, resistance to chemotherapy and targeted therapies, persisting lymphedema, etc. Metabolic bariatric surgery represents an attractive intervention not only for decreasing the risk of carcinogenesis in high-risk women living with obesity but most importantly as a measure to improve disease-specific and overall survival in patients with diagnosed obesity-related gynecologic malignancies. The present narrative review summarizes current evidence on the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms, the clinical data, and the potential applications of metabolic bariatric surgery in all types of gynecologic cancer, including breast, endometrial, ovarian, cervical, vulvar, and vaginal.

Central obesity, body mass index, metabolic syndrome and mortality in Mediterranean breast cancer patients

Obesity and metabolic disorders have been associated with poor outcomes in non-Mediterranean breast cancer (BC) patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic potential of anthropometric variables in patients with early BC living in Southern Mediterranean region of Italy. We enrolled 955 consecutive early BC patients treated in hospitals in Naples between 2009 and 2013 (median follow-up 11.8-year ending 15/09/2022). Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) were collected. All-cause and BC-specific mortality were calculated. At the last day of contact 208 (22%) patients had died, 131 (14%) from BC. High WC (≥ 88 cm) or WHR (> 0.85) and the MetS were significantly associated with moderately increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR=1.39, 1.62, 1.61, respectively). A significant increased risk of BC-specific mortality was found in obese patients, in those with high WC, high WHR and those with MetS (HR=1.72, 1.71, 1.80, 1.81, respectively). Central obesity significantly increased total and BC-specific mortality particularly in pre-menopausal women and in luminal subtypes, while in post-menopause MetS was a stronger risk factor. Obesity and MetS may impair the effectiveness of BC therapies hence active lifestyle interventions are encouraged.

What are the most effective exercise, physical activity and dietary interventions to improve body composition in women diagnosed with or at high-risk of breast cancer? A systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Obesity has been recognized as a risk factor in the development and recurrence of breast cancer and is also associated with poor prognostic outcomes. This systematic review and network meta-analysis aimed to identify the most effective exercise, physical activity, and dietary interventions to reduce fat mass, body fat percentage and body weight as well as potentially increase lean mass in women diagnosed with or at high risk of breast cancer.

METHODS

A systematic search of databases was performed up to May 2022. Eligible randomized controlled trials examined the effects of exercise, physical activity and/or dietary interventions on fat mass and lean mass in women diagnosed with or at high risk of breast cancer. A random-effects network meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effects of different interventions across outcomes when sufficient studies were available.

RESULTS

Eighty-four studies (n = 6428) were included in this review. Caloric restriction and combined exercise + caloric restriction significantly reduced fat mass (range, -3.9 to -3.7 kg) and body weight (range, -5.3 to -4.7 kg), whereas physical activity + caloric restriction significantly reduced body fat percentage (-2.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], -3.4% to -13%) and body mass index (-2.2 kg × m-2 ; 95% CI, -3.0 to -1.4 kg × m-2 ) in breast cancer patients. Resistance exercise was the most effective intervention to increase lean mass (0.7 kg; 95% CI, 0.5-1.0 kg) in breast cancer patients.

CONCLUSION

Multimodal exercise and diet programs were the most effective interventions to reduce fat mass, body fat percentage, and body weight and increase and/or preserve lean mass.

The prognostic and predictive effect of body mass index in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Obesity has been associated with an adverse prognosis and reduced efficacy of endocrine therapy in patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer (BC). This study determines the prognostic and predictive effect of body mass index (BMI) on the disease-free survival (DFS) of postmenopausal HR+ BC patients.

METHODS

Patients were identified from the DATA study (NCT00301457), a randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of 6 vs 3 years of anastrozole after 2 to 3 years of adjuvant tamoxifen in postmenopausal women with HR+ BC. Patients were classified as normal weight (BMI: 18.5-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m2), or obese (≥30.0 kg/m2). The primary endpoint was DFS, evaluated from randomization (prognostic analyses) or 3 years after randomization onwards (predictive analyses; aDFS) using multivariable Cox regression analyses. P-values were 2-sided.

RESULTS

This study included 678 normal weight, 712 overweight, and 391 obese patients. After a median follow-up of 13.1 years, overweight and obesity were identified as negative prognostic factors for DFS (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.16; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.97 to 1.38 and HR = 1.26; 95% CI = 1.03 to 1.54, respectively). The adverse prognostic effect of BMI was observed in women aged younger than 60 years, but not in women aged 60 years or older (P-interaction = .009). The effect of extended anastrozole on aDFS was similar in normal weight (HR = 1.00; 95% CI = 0.74 to 1.35), overweight (HR = 0.74; 95% CI = 0.56 to 0.98), and obese patients (HR = 0.97; 95% CI = 0.69 to 1.36) (P-interaction = .24).

CONCLUSION

In this study among 1781 HR+ BC patients, overweight and obesity were adverse prognostic factors for DFS. BMI did not impact the efficacy of extended anastrozole.

Multifaceted effects of obesity on cancer immunotherapies: Bridging preclinical models and clinical data

Obesity, defined by excessive body fat, is a highly complex condition affecting numerous physiological processes, such as metabolism, proliferation, and cellular homeostasis. These multifaceted effects impact cells and tissues throughout the host, including immune cells as well as cancer biology. Because of the multifaceted nature of obesity, common parameters used to define it (such as body mass index in humans) can be problematic, and more nuanced methods are needed to characterize the pleiotropic metabolic effects of obesity. Obesity is well-accepted as an overall negative prognostic factor for cancer incidence, progression, and outcome. This is in part due to the meta-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects of obesity. Immunotherapy is increasingly used in cancer therapy, and there are many different types of immunotherapy approaches. The effects of obesity on immunotherapy have only recently been studied with the demonstration of an "obesity paradox", in which some immune therapies have been demonstrated to result in greater efficacy in obese subjects despite the direct adverse effects of obesity and excess body fat acting on the cancer itself. The multifactorial characteristics that influence the effects of obesity (age, sex, lean muscle mass, underlying metabolic conditions and drugs) further confound interpretation of clinical data and necessitate the use of more relevant preclinical models mirroring these variables in the human scenario. Such models will allow for more nuanced mechanistic assessment of how obesity can impact, both positively and negatively, cancer biology, host metabolism, immune regulation, and how these intersecting processes impact the delivery and outcome of cancer immunotherapy.

Association of body mass index with clinicopathological features and survival in patients with primary invasive lobular breast cancer

PURPOSE

Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) represents up to 15% of all breast carcinomas. While the proportion of women with overweight and obesity increases globally, the impact of body mass index (BMI) at primary diagnosis on clinicopathological features of ILC and the prognosis of the patients has not been investigated yet.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed a multicentric retrospective study including patients diagnosed with non-metastatic pure ILC. The association of BMI at diagnosis with clinicopathological variables was assessed using linear or multinomial logistic regression. Univariable and multivariable survival analyses were performed to evaluate the association of BMI with disease-free survival (DFS), distant recurrence-free survival (DRFS), and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

The data of 2856 patients with ILC and available BMI at diagnosis were collected, of which 2570/2856 (90.0%) had oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2) not amplified/overexpressed (ER+/HER2-) ILC. Of these 2570 patients, 80 were underweight (3.1%), 1410 were lean (54.9%), 712 were overweight (27.7%), and 368 were obese (14.3%). Older age at diagnosis, a higher tumour grade, a larger tumour size, a nodal involvement, and multifocality were associated with a higher BMI. In univariable models, higher BMI was associated with worse outcomes for all end-points (DFS: hazard ratio (HR) 1.21, 95CI 1.12-1.31, p value<0.01; DRFS: HR 1.25, 95CI 1.12-1.40, p value<0.01; OS: HR 1.25, 95CI 1.13-1.37, p value<0.01). This association was not statistically significant in multivariable analyses (DFS: HR 1.09, 95CI 0.99-1.20, p value 0.08; DRFS: HR 1.03, 95CI 0.89-1.20, p value 0.67; OS: HR 1.11, 95CI 0.99-1.24, p value 0.08), whereas grade, tumour size, and nodal involvement were still prognostic for all end-points.

CONCLUSION

Worse prognostic factors such as higher grade, larger tumour size, and nodal involvement are associated with higher BMI in ER+/HER2- ILC, while there was no statistical evidence for an independent prognostic role for BMI. Therefore, we hypothesise that the effect of BMI on survival could be mediated through its association with these clinicopathological variables.

Novel Treatments for Obesity: Implications for Cancer Prevention and Treatment

It is now established that obesity is related to a higher incidence of cancer during a lifespan. The effective treatment of obesity opens up new perspectives in the treatment of a relevant modifiable cancer risk factor. The present narrative review summarizes the correlations between weight loss in obesity and cancer. The current knowledge between obesity treatment and cancer was explored, highlighting the greatest potential for its use in the treatment of cancer in the clinical setting. Evidence for the effects of obesity therapy on proliferation, apoptosis, and response to chemotherapy is summarized. While more studies, including large, long-term clinical trials, are needed to adequately evaluate the relationship and durability between anti-obesity treatment and cancer, collaboration between oncologists and obesity treatment experts is increasingly important.

Area Deprivation Index in Patients with Invasive Lobular Carcinoma of the Breast: Associations with Tumor Characteristics and Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Although investigators have shown associations between socioeconomic status (SES) and outcomes in breast cancer, there is a paucity of such data for invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), the second most common type of breast cancer. Herein we evaluated the relationship between SES with tumor features and outcomes in stage I to III patients with ILC.

METHODS

We analyzed a prospectively maintained institutional ILC database and utilized the area deprivation index (ADI) to determine neighborhood adversity, an indicator of SES. We used Cox proportional hazards models in Stata 17.0 to evaluate relationships between ADI quintile (Q), race, body mass index (BMI), clinicopathologic features, treatment type, and event-free survival (EFS).

RESULTS

Of 804 patients with ILC, 21.4% lived in neighborhoods classified as ADI Q1 (least resource-deprived) and 19.7% in Q5 (most resource-deprived). Higher deprivation was significantly associated with larger tumor size (3.6 cm in Q5 vs. 3.1 cm in Q1), increased presence of lymphovascular invasion (8.9% in Q5 vs. 6.7% in Q1), and decreased use of adjuvant endocrine therapy (67.1% in Q5 vs. 73.6% in Q1). On multivariable analysis, tumor size, receptor subtypes, and omission of adjuvant endocrine therapy were associated with reduced EFS.

CONCLUSIONS

These data show that patients with ILC and higher ADI experience more aggressive tumors and differences in treatment. More data evaluating the complex relationships between these factors is needed to optimize outcomes for patients with ILC, regardless of SES.

IMPACT

ADI is associated with differences in patients with ILC.

A Holistic Approach to Hard-to-Treat Cancers: The Future of Immunotherapy for Glioblastoma, Triple Negative Breast Cancer, and Advanced Prostate Cancer

Immunotherapy represents an attractive avenue for cancer therapy due to its tumour specificity and relatively low frequency of adverse effects compared to other treatment modalities. Despite many advances being made in the field of cancer immunotherapy, very few immunotherapeutic treatments have been approved for difficult-to-treat solid tumours such as triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), and advanced prostate cancer (PCa). The anatomical location of some of these cancers may also make them more difficult to treat. Many trials focus solely on immunotherapy and have failed to consider or manipulate, prior to the immunotherapeutic intervention, important factors such as the microbiota, which itself is directly linked to lifestyle factors, diet, stress, social support, exercise, sleep, and oral hygiene. This review summarises the most recent treatments for hard-to-treat cancers whilst factoring in the less conventional interventions which could tilt the balance of treatment in favour of success for these malignancies.

The Molecular and Genetic Interactions between Obesity and Breast Cancer Risk

Breast cancer (BC) is considered the leading cause of death among females worldwide. Various risk factors contribute to BC development, such as age, genetics, reproductive factors, obesity, alcohol intake, and lifestyle. Obesity is considered to be a pandemic health problem globally, affecting millions of people worldwide. Obesity has been associated with a high risk of BC development. Determining the impact of obesity on BC development risk in women by demonstrating the molecular and genetic association in pre- and post-menopause females and risk to BC initiation is crucial in order to improve the diagnosis and prognosis of BC disease. In epidemiological studies, BC in premenopausal women was shown to be protective in a certain pattern. These altered effects between the two phases could be due to various physiological changes, such as estrogen/progesterone fluctuating levels. In addition, the relationship between BC risk and obesity is indicated by different molecular alterations as metabolic pathways and genetic mutation or epigenetic DNA changes supporting a strong connection between obesity and BC risk. However, these molecular and genetic alteration remain incompletely understood. The aim of this review is to highlight and elucidate the different molecular mechanisms and genetic changes occurring in obese women and their association with BC risk and development.

Obesity and breast cancer prognosis: pre-diagnostic anthropometric measures in relation to patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics

PURPOSE

Examine the association between obesity and clinical outcomes in early breast cancer and assess if patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics modify such associations in Malmö Diet and Cancer Study patients (MDCS).

METHODS

The MDCS enrolled 17,035 Swedish women from 1991 to 1996. At enrollment, participants' body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and body fat percentage measures were collected. We identified all female MDCS participants with invasive breast cancer from 1991 to 2014. Follow-up began at breast cancer diagnosis and ended at breast cancer recurrence (BCR), death, emigration, or June 8, 2020. The World Health Organization guidelines were used to classify BMI, waist circumference, and body fat percentage into three categories of healthy weight, overweight, and obesity. We fit Cox regression models to compute adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of BCR according to body composition. To evaluate effect measure modification, we stratified Cox models by patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics.

RESULTS

In total, 263 BCRs were diagnosed over 12,816 person-years among 1099 breast cancer patients with a median follow-up of 11.1 years. Obesity according to BMI (HR = 1.44 [95%CI 1.00-2.07]), waist circumference (HR = 1.31 [95%CI 0.98-1.77]), and body fat percentage (HR = 1.41 [95%CI 1.02-1.98]) was associated with increased risk of BCR compared with healthy weight. Obesity was stronger associated with BCR in patients with low socioeconomic position (HR = 2.55 [95%CI 1.08-6.02]), larger tumors > 20 mm (HR = 2.68 [95%CI 1.42-5.06]), estrogen-receptor-negative breast cancer (HR = 3.13 [95%CI 1.09-8.97]), and with adjuvant chemotherapy treatment (HR = 2.06 [95%CI 1.08-4.31]).

CONCLUSION

Higher pre-diagnostic BMI, waist circumference, and body fat percentage was associated with increased risk of BCR. The association between obesity and BCR appears dependent on patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics.

Outcomes in breast cancer-does ethnicity matter?

Ethnic or racial differences in breast cancer (BC) survival outcomes have been reported, but current data are largely restricted to comparisons between African Americans and non-Hispanic whites. Most analyses have traditionally been based on self-reported race which may not always be accurate, or are oversimplified in their classification. With increasing globalization, quantification of the genetic ancestry from genomic data may offer a solution to infer the complex makeup from admixture of races. Focusing on the larger and the latest studies, we will discuss recent findings on the differing host and tumor biology that may be driving these disparities, in addition to the extrinsic environmental or lifestyle factors. Socioeconomic disparities with lower cancer literacy may lead to late presentation, poorer adherence to treatment, and other lifestyle factors such as unhealthy diet, obesity, and inadequate physical activity. These hardships may also result in greater allostatic load, which is in turn associated with aggressive BC features in disadvantaged populations. Epigenetic reprogramming may mediate the effects of the environment or lifestyle factors on gene expression, with ensuing differences in BC characteristics and outcome. There is increasing evidence that germline genetics can influence somatic gene alterations or expression, as well as modulate the tumor or immune microenvironment. Although the precise mechanisms remain elusive, this may account for the varying distribution of different BC subtypes across ethnicities. These gaps in our knowledge highlight the need to interrogate the multiomics landscape of BC in diverse populations, ideally in large-scale collaborative settings with standardized methodology for the comparisons to be statistically robust. Together with improving BC awareness and access to good quality health care, a holistic approach with insights of the biological underpinnings is much needed to eradicate ethnic disparities in BC outcomes.

Unraveling the Role of Adiponectin Receptors in Obesity-Related Breast Cancer

Obesity has a noteworthy role in breast tumor initiation and progression. Among the mechanisms proposed, the most validated is the development of chronic low-grade inflammation, supported by immune cell infiltration along with dysfunction in adipose tissue biology, characterized by an imbalance in adipocytokines secretion and alteration of their receptors within the tumor microenvironment. Many of these receptors belong to the seven-transmembrane receptor family, which are involved in physiological features, such as immune responses and metabolism, as well as in the development and progression of several malignancies, including breast cancer. These receptors are classified as canonical (G protein-coupled receptors, GPCRs) and atypical receptors, which fail to interact and activate G proteins. Among the atypical receptors, adiponectin receptors (AdipoRs) mediate the effect of adiponectin, the most abundant adipocytes-derived hormone, on breast cancer cell proliferation, whose serum levels are reduced in obesity. The adiponectin/AdipoRs axis is becoming increasingly important regarding its role in breast tumorigenesis and as a therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment. The objectives of this review are as follows: to point out the structural and functional differences between GPCRs and AdipoRs, and to focus on the effect of AdipoRs activation in the development and progression of obesity-dependent breast cancer.

A review of the impact of energy balance on triple-negative breast cancer

Cancer cells cannot proliferate without sufficient energy to generate biomass for rapid cell division, as well as to fuel their functions at baseline. For this reason, many recent observational and interventional studies have focused on increasing energy expenditure and/or reducing energy intake during and after cancer treatment. The impact of variance in diet composition and in exercise on cancer outcomes has been detailed extensively elsewhere and is not the primary focus of this review. Instead, in this translational, narrative review we examine studies of how energy balance impacts anticancer immune activation and outcomes in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We discuss preclinical, clinical observational, and the few clinical interventional studies on energy balance in TNBC. We advocate for the implementation of clinical studies to examine how optimizing energy balance-through changes in diet and/or exercise-may optimize the response to immunotherapy in people with TNBC. It is our conviction that by taking a holistic approach that includes energy balance as a key factor to be considered during and after treatment, cancer care may be optimized, and the detrimental effects of cancer treatment and recovery on overall health may be minimized.

The effects of exercise and diet on oxidative stress and telomere length in breast cancer survivors

PURPOSE

Cancer and its treatments accelerate biological aging. This analysis tested the hypothesis that exercise and diet reduce oxidative stress and prevent telomere shortening in breast cancer survivors.

METHODS

In a 2 × 2 factorial design, 342 breast cancer survivors who were insufficiently physically active and had overweight or obesity at enrollment were randomized to one of four treatment groups for 52 weeks: control, exercise alone, diet alone, or exercise plus diet. The endpoints of this analysis were the change from baseline to week 52 in 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) and lymphocyte telomere length.

RESULTS

Baseline telomere length was shorter than age-adjusted normative values (median difference: - 1.8 kilobases; 95% CI - 2.4, - 1.1); equivalent to 21 years (95% CI 17, 25) of accelerated chronological aging. Compared to control, exercise alone did not change 8-iso-PGF2α [9.9%; 95% confidence interval (CI) - 1.0, 20.8] or telomere length (13.8%; 95% CI - 15.6, 43.3). Compared to control, diet alone was associated with reduced 8-iso-PGF2α (- 10.5%; 95% CI - 19.5, - 1.5) but did not change telomere length (12.1%; 95% CI - 17.2, 41.3). Compared to control, exercise plus diet was associated with reduced 8-iso-PGF2α (- 9.8%; 95% CI - 18.7, - 0.9) but did not change telomere length (- 8.5%; 95% CI - 32.1, 15.2). Change in 8-iso-PGF2α did not correlate with change in telomere length (r = 0.07; 95% CI - 0.07, 0.20).

CONCLUSION

In breast cancer survivors, diet alone or exercise plus diet were associated with reduced oxidative stress but did not change telomere length. This analysis may inform future trials that aim to optimize healthy aging in cancer survivors.

The Challenges of Treating Patients with Breast Cancer and Obesity

Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or more and is associated with worse outcomes in patients with breast cancer, resulting in an increased incidence of breast cancer, recurrence, and death. The incidence of obesity is increasing, with almost half of all individuals in the United States classified as obese. Patients with obesity present with unique pharmacokinetics and physiology and are at increased risk of developing diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, which leads to specific challenges when treating these patients. The aim of this review is to summarize the impact of obesity on the efficacy and toxicity of systemic therapies used for breast cancer patients, describe the molecular mechanisms through which obesity can affect systemic therapies, outline the existing American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines for treating patients with cancer and obesity, and highlight additional clinical considerations for treating patients with obesity and breast cancer. We conclude that further research on the biological mechanisms underlying the obesity-breast cancer link may offer new treatment strategies, and clinicals trials that focus on the treatment and outcomes of patients with obesity and all stages of breast cancer are needed to inform future treatment guidelines.

Non-Metastatic Axillary Lymph Nodes Have Distinct Morphology and Immunophenotype in Obese Breast Cancer patients at Risk for Metastasis

Obese patients have worse breast cancer outcomes than normal weight women including a 50% to 80% increased rate of axillary nodal metastasis. Recent studies have shown a potential link between increased lymph node adipose tissue and breast cancer nodal metastasis. Further investigation into potential mechanisms underlying this link may reveal potential prognostic utility of fat-enlarged lymph nodes in breast cancer patients. In this study, a deep learning framework was developed to identify morphological differences of non-metastatic axillary nodes between node-positive and node-negative obese breast cancer patients. Pathology review of the model-selected patches found an increase in the average size of adipocytes (p-value=0.004), an increased amount of white space between lymphocytes (p-value<0.0001), and an increased amount of red blood cells (p-value<0.001) in non-metastatic lymph nodes of node-positive breast cancer patients. Our downstream immunohistology (IHC) analysis showed a decrease of CD3 expression and increase of leptin expression in fat-replaced axillary lymph nodes in obese node-positive patients. In summary, our findings suggest a novel direction to further investigate the crosstalk between lymph node adiposity, lymphatic dysfunction, and breast cancer nodal metastases.

Mediterranean diet in the management and prevention of obesity

The current pandemic of obesity represents a major global public health problem, mainly due to its association with chronic non-communicable disabling conditions and with increased mortality. Population aging increases the chances of non-communicable chronic diseases allowing a longer exposure to risk factors for these disabling conditions. Obesity is a major risk factor contributing to pathological aging. Numerous epidemiological studies have shown that the risk of death due to cardiovascular disease and cancer increases progressively as overweight and obesity rise. Nutrition research is now focused on the effects of combinations of foods in dietary patterns instead of those of single nutrients or foods. The dietary model with the largest body of evidence of health benefit is that traditionally followed by inhabitants of some Mediterranean countries. There is evidence confirming the inverse association of adhering to Mediterranean diet with overweight and obesity. Four meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials, including up to 16 trials, have shown a greater reduction of body weight and BMI with MedDiet compared to other diets, while a meta-analysis of 7 prospective cohort studies, found a reduced risk of becoming obese and gaining weight over time associated with a higher adherence to MedDiet. This narrative review examines studies reporting inverse associations of a higher adherence to the MedDiet with overweight/obesity and with age-associated chronic diseases related to obesity.

Impact of microbiota on breast cancer hormone therapy

Recent observations indicate that the pathogenesis and prognosis of hormone-receptor breast cancer is not only dictated by the properties of the malignant cells but also by immune and microbial parameters. Thus, the immunosurveillance system retards the development of hormone-positive breast cancer and contributes to the therapeutic efficacy of estrogen receptor antagonists and aromatase inhibitors. Moreover, the anticancer immune response is profoundly modulated by the local and intestinal microbiota, which influences cancer cell-intrinsic signaling pathways, affects the composition and function of the immune infiltrate present in the tumor microenvironment and modulates the metabolism of estrogens. Indeed, specific bacteria in the gut produce enzymes that affect the enterohepatic cycle of estrogen metabolites, convert estrogens into androgens or generate estrogen-like molecules. The knowledge of these circuitries is in its infancy, calling for further in-depth analyses.

Postdiagnosis body fatness, recreational physical activity, dietary factors and breast cancer prognosis: Global Cancer Update Programme (CUP Global) summary of evidence grading

Based on the Global Cancer Update Programme, formally known as the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research Continuous Update Project, we performed systematic reviews and meta-analyses to investigate the association of postdiagnosis body fatness, physical activity and dietary factors with breast cancer prognosis. We searched PubMed and Embase for randomised controlled trials and longitudinal observational studies from inception to 31 October 2021. We calculated summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using random-effects meta-analyses. An independent Expert Panel graded the quality of evidence according to predefined criteria. The evidence on postdiagnosis body fatness and higher all-cause mortality (RR per 5 kg/m2 in body mass index: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.05-1.10), breast cancer-specific mortality (RR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.06-1.14) and second primary breast cancer (RR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.04-1.26) was graded as strong (likelihood of causality: probable). The evidence for body fatness and breast cancer recurrence and other nonbreast cancer-related mortality was graded as limited (likelihood of causality: limited-suggestive). The evidence on recreational physical activity and lower risk of all-cause (RR per 10 metabolic equivalent of task-hour/week: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.78-0.92) and breast cancer-specific mortality (RR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.77-0.96) was judged as limited-suggestive. Data on dietary factors was limited, and no conclusions could be reached except for healthy dietary patterns, isoflavone and dietary fibre intake and serum 25(OH)D concentrations that were graded with limited-suggestive evidence for lower risk of the examined outcomes. Our results encourage the development of lifestyle recommendations for breast cancer patients to avoid obesity and be physically active.

Postdiagnosis body fatness, weight change and breast cancer prognosis: Global Cancer Update Program (CUP global) systematic literature review and meta-analysis

Previous evidence on postdiagnosis body fatness and mortality after breast cancer was graded as limited-suggestive. To evaluate the evidence on body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-hip-ratio and weight change in relation to breast cancer prognosis, an updated systematic review was conducted. PubMed and Embase were searched for relevant studies published up to 31 October, 2021. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted to estimate summary relative risks (RRs). The evidence was judged by an independent Expert Panel using pre-defined grading criteria. One randomized controlled trial and 225 observational studies were reviewed (220 publications). There was strong evidence (likelihood of causality: probable) that higher postdiagnosis BMI was associated with increased all-cause mortality (64 studies, 32 507 deaths), breast cancer-specific mortality (39 studies, 14 106 deaths) and second primary breast cancer (11 studies, 5248 events). The respective summary RRs and 95% confidence intervals per 5 kg/m2 BMI were 1.07 (1.05-1.10), 1.10 (1.06-1.14) and 1.14 (1.04-1.26), with high between-study heterogeneity (I2  = 56%, 60%, 66%), but generally consistent positive associations. Positive associations were also observed for waist circumference, waist-hip-ratio and all-cause and breast cancer-specific mortality. There was limited-suggestive evidence that postdiagnosis BMI was associated with higher risk of recurrence, nonbreast cancer deaths and cardiovascular deaths. The evidence for postdiagnosis (unexplained) weight or BMI change and all outcomes was graded as limited-no conclusion. The RCT showed potential beneficial effect of intentional weight loss on disease-free-survival, but more intervention trials and well-designed observational studies in diverse populations are needed to elucidate the impact of body composition and their changes on breast cancer outcomes.

Adipose Cells Induce Escape from an Engineered Human Breast Microtumor Independently of their Obesity Status

Introduction

Obesity is associated with increased breast cancer incidence, recurrence, and mortality. Adipocytes and adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), two resident cell types in adipose tissue, accelerate the early stages of breast cancer progression. It remains unclear whether obesity plays a role in the subsequent escape of malignant breast cancer cells into the local circulation.

Methods

We engineered models of human breast tumors with adipose stroma that exhibited different obesity-specific alterations. We used these models to assess the invasion and escape of breast cancer cells into an empty, blind-ended cavity (as a mimic of a lymphatic vessel) for up to sixteen days.

Results

Lean and obese donor-derived adipose stroma hastened escape to similar extents. Moreover, a hypertrophic adipose stroma did not affect the rate of adipose-induced escape. When admixed directly into the model tumors, lean and obese donor-derived ASCs hastened escape similarly.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that the presence of adipose cells, independently of the obesity status of the adipose tissue donor, hastens the escape of human breast cancer cells in multiple models of obesity-associated breast cancer.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12195-022-00750-y.

Adipocytokine imbalance and breast cancer in obese women

CONTEXT

Breast cancer is the most common diagnosis established in women with malignant tumors.

AIMS

The purpose is to investigate the blood contents of adiponectin and leptin in women with breast cancer and obesity.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

A total of 140 women aged 40-50 were examined.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Group 1 included 70 women from classes 1 or 2 obesity. Group 2 included 70 women with stage 1 or 2 breast cancer and classes 1 or 2 obesity. The control group included 30 apparently healthy women, with mean age of 42.5 ± 2.5 years.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Statistical processing of the results obtained was performed using Statistica.

RESULTS

Groups 1 and 2 were statistically significantly different from each other across all parameters, except for leptin resistance. In group 2, the course of breast cancer with concomitant obesity is characterized by disrupted adipocytokine homeostasis, which manifests as a 1.94-fold decrease in the blood content of adiponectin (P < 0.05), a 4.14-fold increase in the blood content of leptin (P < 0.05), and an 8.00-fold increase in the leptin/adiponectin ratio (P < 0.05). Poorly differentiated breast tumors exhibit a more pronounced imbalance in the blood levels of adipocytokines. Thus, the serum content of leptin in women with poorly differentiated tumors (G3) was 1.79 times (P < 0.05) higher than in women with moderately differentiated tumors (G2).

CONCLUSIONS

The course of breast cancer with concomitant obesity is characterized by disrupted adipocytokine homeostasis and decreased adiponectin concentration in the blood.

Association of visceral adipose tissue with postoperative outcome in upper gastrointestinal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

There is no consensus on the relation between visceral fat mass and long-term postoperative prognosis in patients with upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of preoperative visceral fat mass with postoperative complications and overall survival (OS) in patients with upper GI cancer.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE (Dialog), the WHO International Clinical Trials Platform Search Portal, and ClinicalTrials.gov and identified observational studies published from inception through 20 July 2022. We conducted a systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of studies including patients who were surgically treated for upper GI cancer and whose visceral fat mass was assessed on the basis of body composition. We independently assessed the risk of bias and quality of evidence using the Quality In Prognosis Studies and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach, respectively. The primary outcome was OS. HRs and 95% CIs for OS were pooled.

RESULTS

Ninety-one studies (n = 20,583) were included. All studies used computed tomography (CT) to assess the body composition of patients. Twenty-four studies reported the relation between high visceral fat and postoperative outcomes, and their results were synthesized. Compared with low visceral adipose tissue, high visceral adipose tissue assessed by CT may improve OS (HR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.55, 0.87; I2 = 65%; n = 3407). The risk of bias for OS in each study was moderate or high. The certainty of evidence for OS was very low because of inconsistency in the forest plot, the moderate or high risk of bias, and publication bias.

CONCLUSIONS

High visceral fat may be associated with improved OS after radical resection in patients with upper GI cancer. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and mitigate the risk.

Body Weight, Central Adiposity, and Fasting Hyperglycemia Are Associated with Tumor Characteristics in a Brazilian Cohort of Women with Breast Cancer

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of overweight, obesity, excess central adiposity, hyperglycemia, and diabetes mellitus with tumor characteristics in breast cancer. In this retrospective cohort study that enrolled 2127 women with breast cancer, the independent variables collected were fasting blood glucose, body mass index, central adiposity (waist circumference and waist-to-hip circumference ratio (WHR)), and waist-to-height ratio. The tumor characteristics (infiltrating, ductal grade, hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor, triple negative, size, lymph node involvement, and clinical stage) were the dependent variables. Most of the women were postmenopausal (73.5%), with an infiltrating tumor (83.0%), HR+ (82.0%), and overweight or obese (71.0%). For the premenopausal women, obesity was associated with grade 3 ductal tumor (odds ratio (OR): 1.70; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.09-2.66), triple negative (OR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.08-3.24), and size ≥ 2 cm (OR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.36-3.56). For the postmenopausal women, obesity was associated with WHR, infiltrating tumor (OR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.56-1.95), size ≥ 2 cm (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.11-1.71), lymph node involvement (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.02-1.56), and stages III-IV (OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.30-2.65). Excess body weight and central adiposity were associated with tumor aggressiveness characteristics in women with breast cancer, confirming the importance of nutritional status.

Cytokines secreted from adipose tissues mediate tumor proliferation and metastasis in triple negative breast cancer

Background

Obesity is a high-risk factor for development and poor prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which was considered as a high malignant and poor clinical outcome breast cancer subtype. TNBC proliferation and migration regulated by obesity is complex. Here, we studied effects of cytokines secreted from adipose tissue on development of TNBC.

Methods

Forty postmenopausal cases by Yuebei People’s Hospital of Shaoguan with stage I/IIA TNBC were enrolled. Cytokine concentrations were examined using ELISA analysis. Proliferation and migration of TNBC cell lines were performed using CCK8 assays and Transwell tests. The Log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test, two-tailed Mann-Whitney U test and two-tailed unpaired t test were performed using GraphPad Prism 8.4.2.

Results

Survival analysis indicated that obese patients with TNBC had worse disease free survival (DFS) as compared with normal weight group (Hazard Ratio 4.393, 95% confidence interval (CI) of ratio 1.071–18.02, p < 0.05). Obese patients with TNBC had severe insulin resistance and high plasma triglycerides. However, plasma adiponectin concentration was decreased and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) concentration was increased in obese TNBC patients as compared with the nonobese group. The similar results were found in the cytokine secretion from adipose tissues and insulin-resistant adipocytes. The secretion of adipose tissue from obese TNBC patients could promote proliferation and migration of TNBC cell lines, including MDA-MB-157, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-453 and HCC38 cells. These TNBC cell lines co-incubated with insulin-resistant 3T3-L1 adipocytes or supplementing these cytokines medium also exhibited increase of proliferative and migratory capacity.

Conclusion

TNBC patients with obesity had worse prognosis compared with the normal weight groups. Alteration of cytokines secreted from adipose tissues mediated proliferation and migration of TNBC, leading to tumor progression in TNBC patients with obesity.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09959-6.

The association between adiposity and anti-proliferative response to neoadjuvant endocrine therapy with letrozole in post-menopausal patients with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer

The impact of adiposity on the efficacy of endocrine treatment in patients with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer is poorly investigated. Here, we retrospectively investigated in a cohort of 56 patients whether body mass index and/or mammary adiposity are associated with anti-proliferative response in the neoadjuvant setting. Anti-proliferative response was defined as high Ki67 at baseline (Ki67_bl) and low Ki67 at surgery (Ki67_srg), using the 14% cut-off. Mammary adipocyte size was assessed on hematoxylin and eosin slides from the surgical samples using digital pathology. A higher proportion of tumors with an anti-proliferative response was observed in patients with obesity (54.5%) as compared to patients with normal weight (9.0%) and patients with overweight (40.0%) (p = 0.031), confirmed by multivariable regression analysis adjusted for baseline Ki67 (OR, obese vs normal weight: 13.76, 95%CI: 1.49–207.63, p = 0.020). Larger adipocyte diameter was identified as predictor of anti-proliferative response (OR per increase in diameter of 5 μm for adipocytes distant from the tumor: 2.24, 95%CI: 1.01–14.32, p = 0.046). This study suggests that anti-proliferative response to neoadjuvant letrozole might be more frequent in patients with increased systemic or mammary adiposity.

Associations of adiposity and weight change with recurrence and survival in breast cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Adiposity and weight change among patients with breast cancer are associated with mortality, but there is limited evidence on the associations with distant recurrence or other causes of death or on central adiposity. Moreover, the relationship with breast cancer subtypes and by menopause status is unclear.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies of breast cancer patients investigating the associations of general and central adiposity (body mass index [BMI] and waist circumference [WC], respectively), before and after diagnosis, and weight change, with all-cause mortality, breast cancer-specific mortality (BCSM), and recurrence.

RESULTS

173 studies (519,544 patients, 60,249 deaths overall, and 25,751 breast cancer deaths) were included. For BMI  < 1 year post diagnosis, compared with normal weight women, the summary relative risk (RR) for obese women was 1.21 (1.15-1.27) for all-cause mortality, 1.22 (1.13-1.32) for BCSM, 1.12 (1.06-1.18) for recurrence, and 1.19 (1.11-1.28) for distant recurrence. Obesity was associated with all-cause mortality and BCSM in patients with ER+ or HER2+ tumors, whereas no clear association was observed in patients with triple-negative tumors. Similar associations were observed by menopausal status. Stronger associations were observed in East Asians than Europeans. Central adiposity was associated with all-cause mortality, while large weight gain was associated with all-cause mortality, BCSM, and recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Higher adiposity is associated with all-cause mortality, BCSM, recurrence, and distant recurrence in breast cancer patients, with similar associations by menopausal status and some evidence of heterogeneity by subtypes. Weight gain is also associated with recurrence and survival among breast cancer patients.

Effectiveness of logotherapy and nutrition counseling on psychological status, quality of life, and dietary intake among breast cancer survivors with depressive disorder: a randomized clinical trial

Breast cancer (BC) can negatively influence multiple facets of survivors' lives including mental health, quality of life (QoL), and dietary behavior. Logotherapy as a psycho-education program may help breast cancer survivors (BCSs) discover their meaning of life throughout distressful events. The present study aimed to determine the effects of logotherapy along with nutrition counseling on psychological status, QoL, and dietary intake among BCSs who were diagnosed with depression.This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 90 BCSs who scored ≥ 14 on Beck's depression test. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups to receive nutrition counseling plus logotherapy (n = 46) or nutrition counseling alone (n = 44) for 8 weeks. Primary outcomes (depression, anxiety, and QoL) and secondary outcomes (anthropometric indices, dietary intake, and eating disorder status) were measured at baseline and after 8 weeks.All dimensions of QoL, anthropometric measurements, and the compulsive eating scale improved significantly in both groups after 8 weeks. A combination of nutrition counseling and logotherapy resulted in a significant reduction in anxiety (P < 0.001) and depression (P < 0.001) scores compared with the nutrition counseling alone. In addition, participants who received logotherapy plus nutrition counseling significantly consumed less energy, carbohydrate, and fat intake after 8 weeks compared with the control group (P < 0.001).It can be concluded that logotherapy along with nutrition education would be an important step in improving anxiety, depression, and QoL of patients with BC who had depressive symptoms.Trial registration number: (IR.ACECR.IBCRC.REC.1396.17).

The obesity-breast cancer link: a multidisciplinary perspective

Obesity, exceptionally prevalent in the USA, promotes the incidence and progression of numerous cancer types including breast cancer. Complex, interacting metabolic and immune dysregulation marks the development of both breast cancer and obesity. Obesity promotes chronic low-grade inflammation, particularly in white adipose tissue, which drives immune dysfunction marked by increased pro-inflammatory cytokine production, alternative macrophage activation, and reduced T cell function. Breast tissue is predominantly composed of white adipose, and developing breast cancer readily and directly interacts with cells and signals from adipose remodeled by obesity. This review discusses the biological mechanisms through which obesity promotes breast cancer, the role of obesity in breast cancer health disparities, and dietary interventions to mitigate the adverse effects of obesity on breast cancer. We detail the intersection of obesity and breast cancer, with an emphasis on the shared and unique patterns of immune dysregulation in these disease processes. We have highlighted key areas of breast cancer biology exacerbated by obesity, including incidence, progression, and therapeutic response. We posit that interception of obesity-driven breast cancer will require interventions that limit protumor signaling from obese adipose tissue and that consider genetic, structural, and social determinants of the obesity–breast cancer link. Finally, we detail the evidence for various dietary interventions to offset obesity effects in clinical and preclinical studies of breast cancer. In light of the strong associations between obesity and breast cancer and the rising rates of obesity in many parts of the world, the development of effective, safe, well-tolerated, and equitable interventions to limit the burden of obesity on breast cancer are urgently needed.

A precision medicine approach to metabolic therapy for breast cancer in mice

Increasing evidence highlights approaches targeting metabolism as potential adjuvants to cancer therapy. Sodium-glucose transport protein 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are the newest class of antihyperglycemic drugs. To our knowledge, SGLT2 inhibitors have not been applied in the neoadjuvant setting as a precision medicine approach for this devastating disease. Here, we treat lean breast tumor-bearing mice with the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin as monotherapy and in combination with paclitaxel chemotherapy. We show that dapagliflozin enhances the efficacy of paclitaxel, reducing tumor glucose uptake and prolonging survival. Further, the ability of dapagliflozin to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy correlates with its effect to reduce circulating insulin in some but not all breast tumors. Our data suggest a genetic signature for breast tumors more likely to respond to dapagliflozin in combination with paclitaxel. In the current study, tumors driven by mutations upstream of canonical insulin signaling pathways responded to this combined treatment, whereas tumors driven by mutations downstream of canonical insulin signaling did not. These data demonstrate that dapagliflozin enhances the response to chemotherapy in mice with breast cancer and suggest that patients with driver mutations upstream of canonical insulin signaling may be most likely to benefit from this neoadjuvant approach.

Insulin and cancer: a tangled web

For a century, since the pioneering work of Otto Warburg, the interwoven relationship between metabolism and cancer has been appreciated. More recently, with obesity rates rising in the U.S. and worldwide, epidemiologic evidence has supported a link between obesity and cancer. A substantial body of work seeks to mechanistically unpack the association between obesity, altered metabolism, and cancer. Without question, these relationships are multifactorial and cannot be distilled to a single obesity- and metabolism-altering hormone, substrate, or factor. However, it is important to understand the hormone-specific associations between metabolism and cancer. Here, we review the links between obesity, metabolic dysregulation, insulin, and cancer, with an emphasis on current investigational metabolic adjuncts to standard-of-care cancer treatment.

Prognostic impact of body mass index (BMI) in HER2+ breast cancer treated with anti-HER2 therapies: from preclinical rationale to clinical implications

Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (HER2) overexpression or HER2 gene amplification defines a subset of breast cancers (BCs) characterized by higher biological and clinical aggressiveness. The introduction of anti-HER2 drugs has remarkably improved clinical outcomes in patients with both early-stage and advanced HER2+ BC. However, some HER2+ BC patients still have unfavorable outcomes despite optimal anti-HER2 therapies. Retrospective clinical analyses indicate that overweight and obesity can negatively affect the prognosis of patients with early-stage HER2+ BC. This association could be mediated by the interplay between overweight/obesity, alterations in systemic glucose and lipid metabolism, increased systemic inflammatory status, and the stimulation of proliferation pathways resulting in the stimulation of HER2+ BC cell growth and resistance to anti-HER2 therapies. By contrast, in the context of advanced disease, a few high-quality studies, which were included in a meta-analysis, showed an association between high body mass index (BMI) and better clinical outcomes, possibly reflecting the negative prognostic role of malnourishment and cachexia in this setting. Of note, overweight and obesity are modifiable factors. Therefore, uncovering their prognostic role in patients with early-stage or advanced HER2+ BC could have clinical relevance in terms of defining subsets of patients requiring more or less aggressive pharmacological treatments, as well as of designing clinical trials to investigate the therapeutic impact of lifestyle interventions aimed at modifying body weight and composition. In this review, we summarize and discuss the available preclinical evidence supporting the role of adiposity in modulating HER2+ BC aggressiveness and resistance to therapies, as well as clinical studies reporting on the prognostic role of BMI in patients with early-stage or advanced HER2+ BC.

The role of obesity and bariatric surgery-induced weight loss in breast cancer

Obesity is a complex metabolic condition considered a worldwide public health crisis, and a deeper mechanistic understanding of obesity-associated diseases is urgently needed. Obesity comorbidities include many associated cancers and are estimated to account for 20% of female cancer deaths in the USA. Breast cancer, in particular, is associated with obesity and is the focus of this review. The exact causal links between obesity and breast cancer remain unclear. Still, interactions have emerged between body mass index, tumor molecular subtype, genetic background, and environmental factors that strongly suggest obesity influences the risk and progression of certain breast cancers. Supportive preclinical research uses various diet-induced obesity models to demonstrate that weight loss, via dietary interventions or changes in energy expenditure, reduces the onset or progression of breast cancers. Ongoing and future studies are now aimed at elucidating the underpinning mechanisms behind weight-loss-driven observations to improve therapy and outcomes in patients with breast cancer and reduce risk. This review aims to summarize the rapidly emerging literature on obesity and weight loss strategies with a focused discussion of bariatric surgery in both clinical and preclinical studies detailing the complex interactions between metabolism, immune response, and immunotherapy in the setting of obesity and breast cancer.

Obesity and menopausal status impact the features and molecular phenotype of invasive lobular breast cancer

Purpose

We investigated the relationship between obesity, menopausal status, and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), the second most common histological subtype of breast cancer. Specifically, we evaluated the association between body mass index (BMI), metabolic syndrome, the 21-gene Oncotype Recurrence Score (Oncotype RS), and pathological features in patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-negative ILC.

Methods

The study cohort included 491 patients from a prospectively maintained institutional database consisting of patients with stage I-III, HR-positive ILC who underwent surgical treatment between 1996 and 2019.

Results

Contrary to our expectations, we found that lower BMI was significantly associated with having higher Oncotype RS (18.9% versus 4.8%, p = 0.028) in post-menopausal patients, but was not related to tumor characteristics in pre-menopausal patients. Multivariate network analyses suggested a strong relationship between post-menopausal status itself and tumor characteristics, with lesser influence of BMI.

Conclusion

These findings provide further insight into the recently appreciated heterogeneity within ILC and support the need for further investigation into the drivers of this disease and tailored treatment strategies.

Overweight and prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the association between overweight and outcome in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. We searched PubMed and Embase using variations of the search terms triple-negative breast cancer (population), overweight and/or obesity (exposure), and prognosis (outcome). Based on the World Health Organization guidelines for defining overweight, we included longitudinal observational studies, which utilized survival statistics with hazard ratios (HRs) in our analysis. The included studies measured body mass index at the time of diagnosis of TNBC and reported disease-free survival and/or overall survival. Study quality was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and study data were extracted using the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) checklist, independently by two authors. Random-effects models were used to combine the effect sizes (HRs), and the results were evaluated and adjusted for possible publication bias. Thirteen studies of 8,944 TNBC patients were included. The meta-analysis showed that overweight was associated with both shorter disease-free survival (HR = 1.26; 95%CI: 1.09–1.46) and shorter overall survival (HR = 1.29; 95%CI: 1.11c1.51) compared to normal-weight. Additionally, our Bayesian meta-analyses suggest that overweight individuals are 7.4 and 9.9 times more likely to have shorter disease-free survival and overall survival, respectively. In conclusion, the available data suggest that overweight is associated with shorter disease-free and overall survival among TNBC patients. The results should be interpreted with caution due to possible publication bias.

A randomized trial of exercise and diet on body composition in survivors of breast cancer with overweight or obesity

PURPOSE

Obesity increases the risk of cancer recurrence and death in survivors of breast cancer. This study tested the hypothesis that exercise alone, diet alone, and the combination of exercise plus diet reduce body weight and improve body composition in survivors of breast cancer.

METHODS

In this 2 × 2 factorial trial, 351 survivors of breast cancer with overweight or obesity were randomized to one of four treatment groups for 52 weeks: control, exercise alone, diet alone, or exercise plus diet. Endpoints included body weight and body composition measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

RESULTS

After 52 weeks, compared with control, diet alone [- 5.39 kg (95% CI - 7.24, - 3.55);- 6.0% (95% CI - 8.0, - 3.9)] and exercise plus diet [- 6.68 kg (95% CI - 8.46, - 4.90);- 7.4% (95% CI - 9.4, - 5.4)] reduced body weight; exercise alone did not change body weight. Compared with control, diet alone [- 3.59 kg (95% CI - 5.00, - 2.17)] and exercise plus diet [- 4.28 kg (95% CI - 5.71, - 2.84)] reduced fat mass; exercise alone did not change fat mass. Compared with control, diet alone [- 0.82 kg (95% CI - 1.50, - 0.15)] and exercise plus diet [- 1.24 kg (95% CI - 1.92, - 0.56)] reduced lean mass; exercise alone did not change lean mass. Compared with control, exercise alone, diet alone, and exercise plus diet did not change bone mineral density.

CONCLUSION

In survivors of breast cancer with overweight or obesity, diet alone or diet plus exercise produced clinically meaningful weight loss at week 52. The majority of weight loss was fat mass.

Harnessing Nutrition and Physical Activity for Breast Cancer Prevention and Control to Reduce Racial/Ethnic Cancer Health Disparities

There are well-known racial/ethnic disparities in the prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity, as well as breast cancer risk and survival. However, most of the current scientific evidence that serves as a foundation for nutrition and physical activity guidelines is based on studies conducted in predominantly non-Hispanic White populations. Similarly, exercise, diet, or lifestyle intervention trials for breast cancer prevention and survivorship are scarce in racial/ethnic minority populations. We review the current evidence for racial/ethnic disparities in obesity and breast cancer risk and survival (we are focusing on obesity, because this is considered an ASCO priority, and studies conducted in the United States), discuss the evolution of nutrition/physical activity guidelines for cancer prevention and control, and provide an overview of lifestyle interventions, including barriers and facilitators in implementation and dissemination science among minority populations underrepresented in research. There is a critical need to include racially/ethnically diverse populations in cancer prevention and control research or to specifically target minority populations in which disparities are known to exist to achieve much needed health equity.