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Body mass index as a prognostic feature in operable breast cancer: the International Breast Cancer Study Group experience
Journal Paper/Review - Jun 1, 2004
Berclaz G, Thürlimann Beat, Fey M F, Mendiola C, Werner I Dudley, Simoncini E, Crivellari D, Gelber R D, Goldhirsch A, Snyder R, Collins J, Li S, Price K N, Coates A S, Castiglione-Gertsch M, Rudenstam C-M, Holmberg S B, Lindtner J, Erien D, International Breast Cancer Study Group
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PubMed
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BACKGROUND: Current information on the prognostic importance of body mass index (BMI) for patients with early breast cancer is based on a variety of equivocal reports. Few have data on BMI in relationship to systemic treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients (6792) were randomized to International Breast Cancer Study Group trials from 1978 to 1993, studying chemotherapy and endocrine therapy. BMI was evaluated with eight other factors: menopausal status, nodal status, estrogen receptor status, progesterone receptor status, tumor size, vessel invasion, tumor grade and treatment. BMI was categorized as normal (< or =24.9), intermediate (25.0-29.9) or obese (> or =30.0). RESULTS: Patients with normal BMI had significantly longer overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) than patients with intermediate or obese BMI in pairwise comparisons adjusted for other factors. Subset analyses showed the same effect in pre- and perimenopausal patients and in those receiving chemotherapy alone. When assessed globally and adjusted for other factors, BMI significantly influenced OS (P = 0.03) but not DFS (P = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS: BMI is an independent prognostic factor for OS in patients with breast cancer, especially among pre-/perimenopausal patients treated with chemotherapy without endocrine therapy.