Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 9, 2026
09:29
Studying Triple Negative Breast Cancer Using Orthotopic Breast Cancer Model
Published on: March 20, 2020
18.9K
Early breast cancer: why does obesity affect prognosis?
A Heetun1, R I Cutress1, E R Copson1
1Cancer Sciences Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine,University of Southampton,Somers Cancer Sciences Building,Southampton General Hospital,Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD,UK.
The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society
|June 5, 2018
Summary
High body mass index (BMI) increases breast cancer risk and worsens outcomes. Obesity impacts treatment effectiveness and tolerance, necessitating further research for improved patient management.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Cancer Epidemiology
Background:
- High body mass index (BMI) is linked to increased breast cancer incidence in post-menopausal women and poorer outcomes across all age groups.
- Obesity may lead to later diagnosis, more aggressive tumor features (e.g., ER-negative), and increased surgical complications.
- Chemotherapy and endocrine therapy may be less effective in patients with a BMI ≥30 kg/m².
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the multifactorial mechanisms linking obesity to breast cancer behavior and treatment outcomes.
- To explore the impact of body composition, beyond BMI, on chemotherapy tolerance and effectiveness.
- To identify the need for tailored management strategies for obese breast cancer patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on BMI, obesity, and breast cancer incidence, outcomes, and treatment response.
- Analysis of factors including tumor biology, surgical complications, and drug efficacy in relation to BMI.
- Consideration of body composition (fat vs. lean mass) and its potential influence on treatment.
Main Results:
- High BMI is associated with increased breast cancer risk and poorer prognosis.
- Obesity is linked to adverse tumor characteristics and higher rates of surgical complications.
- Evidence suggests reduced effectiveness of chemotherapy and endocrine therapy in obese patients.
Conclusions:
- Obesity presents a complex challenge in breast cancer management due to multifactorial influences on risk, progression, and treatment.
- Current metrics like BMI may not fully capture the impact of adiposity and body composition on patient outcomes.
- Further research into biological mechanisms and body composition is crucial for developing personalized treatment strategies to improve survival rates for obese breast cancer patients.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Obesity
1.4K
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in...
1.4K
01:24Role of Affect in Interpersonal Attraction
233
Affect plays a crucial role in shaping interpersonal evaluations and perceptions. Emotions influence how individuals judge and respond to others, often determining whether interactions are viewed positively or negatively. This effect can manifest directly through interactions with the person in question or indirectly via associations with unrelated emotional experiences.Direct Effects of Affect on AttractionAffect directly influences interpersonal attraction when a person’s behavior...
233
01:29The Influence of Affect on Cognition
300
Positive affect significantly influences cognitive processes, including evaluation, memory, creativity, and social judgments. Compared to negative affect, positive emotional states promote more favorable interpretations of stimuli, cognitive flexibility, and heuristic processing. These effects highlight emotions' powerful role in shaping how individuals perceive, remember, and interact with the world.Influence on Evaluation and AttributionWhen individuals experience positive affect, they are...
300
01:29The Influence of Cognition on Affect
223
Cognition plays a pivotal role in shaping emotional experiences, as demonstrated by Schachter and Singer’s two-factor theory of emotion. According to this model, emotion arises from a combination of physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation. The body’s physiological response to stimuli is ambiguous and only gains emotional significance through cognitive labeling. For instance, an increased heart rate and adrenaline surge while standing near an attractive person may be...
223
02:27Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
7.7K
Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
7.7K
01:21Drug Dosing: Obese Patients
269
In the United States, obesity is a prominent concern. It is linked to heightened mortality rates due to increased occurrences of conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and diabetes compared to nonobese individuals. A patient is classified as obese if their actual body weight surpasses the ideal or desirable body weight by 20%, based on Metropolitan Life Insurance Company data. Ideal body weights consider average weights and heights for males and females...
269