Weight and Receptor Status Predict Breast Cancer Death
Posted on: Wednesday, 15 December 2004, 03:00 CST
Body weight at diagnosis and oestrogen receptor status are important predictors of mortality in early stage breast cancer.
Researchers from the United States undertook a retrospective cohort study using medical records and archived tissue specimens from 1,376 women aged 24 to 81 who were diagnosed with breast cancer. They were followed up for a median of 6.8 years after diagnosis.
During follow up, 246 women died from breast cancer. Among women with early stage disease, there was a dose response relationship of increasing weight and increasing likelihood of dying from breast cancer. Compared with women in the lowest category of weight (under 60kg at diagnosis), women in the highest category (79kg or above) experienced a 2.5-fold increased risk of dying from breast cancer (hazard ratio 2.54). Women with oestrogen receptor negative tumours had an approximately two-fold higher risk of dying from breast cancer compared with women who have receptor positive tumours, regardless of the stage at diagnosis. Women in the upper 50th percentile of weight with early stage and oestrogen receptor negative tumours had a nearly five-fold increased risk of dying (hazard ratio 4.99) compared with women in the lower 50th percentile of weight with oestrogen positive tumours. The results were similar when body mass index was used rather than weight alone.
Women with breast cancer are more likely to die if they have a high body weight
Enger S et al (2004) Body weight correlates with mortality in early-stage breast cancer. Archives of Surgery. 139, 9, 954-960.
Copyright RCN Publishing Company Ltd. Dec 1-Dec 7, 2004
Source: Nursing Standard
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