Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates weight trajectories in pre- versus postmenopausal breast cancer (BC) survivors diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive tumors, with a specific focus on discerning menopausal status and type of endocrine treatment (ET) as risk factors for weight gain during ET.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective review of electronic medical records. Descriptive statistics and Chi-squared and t tests were used to compare pre- and postmenopausal women. Chi-squared tests and ANOVA were used for within-group associations between patient characteristics and weight trajectories. Log-binomial regression models were used to estimate relative risk for weight gain.
Results
The final sample was 32% premenopausal (n = 140) and 68% postmenopausal (n = 298). Relative risk (RR) for weight gain during ET was highest in women who were premenopausal (RR = 1.29, 1.03–1.52) and had Stage 3 BC (RR = 2.12, 1.59–2.82), mastectomy (RR = 1.49, 1.19–1.88), axillary node dissection (RR = 1.39, 1.11–1.73), and chemotherapy (RR = 1.80, 1.37–2.36). For each kg of weight gained between BC diagnosis and start of ET, and for each additional year of age, RR of gaining weight during ET decreased (RR = 0.98, 0.97–0.99, and RR = 0.99, 0.98–0.99, respectively). Menopausal status and type of ET were not significant predictors of weight gain. In multivariable analysis, only weight loss between BC diagnosis and start of ET was significant.
Conclusion
The association of weight loss prior to ET and subsequent substantial weight gain during ET warrants further investigation.
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Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, NCI Breast Cancer Specialized Program of Research Excellence (CA58223), and the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center/University Cancer Research Fund. Dr. Shachar’s fellowship at UNC was supported by the Friends of Rambam Medical Center and The J&G Zukier Medical Fund Donation, Haifa, Israel.
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Funding
This study was funded in part by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of New York and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center/University Cancer Research Fund.
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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
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This study did not entail direct contact with humans and therefore did not entail obtaining informed consent.
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The abstract for this study was accepted for publication, 2017 ASCO Annual Meeting.
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Nyrop, K.A., Deal, A.M., Lee, J.T. et al. Weight gain in hormone receptor-positive (HR+) early-stage breast cancer: is it menopausal status or something else?. Breast Cancer Res Treat 167, 235–248 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-017-4501-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-017-4501-4