THE IMPACT OF BODY MASS INDEX ON CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL FEATURES AND SURVIVAL OUTCOMES IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS: A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY.

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Clinical oncology and nuclear medicine, Suez Canal University hospital, Ismailia, Egypt

2 Professor of Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine - Faculty of Medicine – Suez Canal University

3 Lecturer of Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine - Faculty of Medicine – Suez Canal University

4 Assistant professor of Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine - Faculty of Medicine – Suez Canal University

Abstract

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women, yet the relationship between obesity/overweight and its outcomes remains unclear.
This retrospective cohort study, conducted at Suez Canal University Hospital from January 2013 to December 2018. A total of 273 breast cancer patients were included and categorized by Body Mass Index into normal weight (9.89%), overweight (21.24%), and obese (68.86%) groups, and then compared across clinico-pathological characteristics, disease-free survival, and 10-year overall survival.
Results: Obese patients were generally older at diagnosis (average 50 years) and more often postmenopausal (61.7%of obese). Both obese and overweight patients presented with larger tumor sizes and more advanced tumor stages compared to normal weight individuals. Specifically, T2 tumors were prevalent in 62.1% of overweight and 68.6% of obese patients, contrasting with 33.3% in normal weight patients. Stage III disease was also higher in overweight (44.8%) and obese (27.1%) groups than in normal weight patients (22.2%). Normal weight patients showed a higher incidence of local recurrence (14.8%) and positive family history. Obesity did not appear to affect overall or disease-free survival.
Conclusion: while the impact of obesity on breast cancer prognosis remains a subject of debate, this study indicates that obese and overweight breast cancer patients tend to have more aggressive disease presentations, characterized by larger tumor sizes and advanced stages. The higher local recurrence in normal weight patients might be linked to their younger age and increased incidence of triple-negative breast cancer. Further research is necessary to fully understand how obesity influences breast cancer prognosis.

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History

  • Receive Date: 07 June 2025
  • Accept Date: 05 July 2025

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