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DXA-Derived Visceral and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue and Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Mortality
Jennifer W Bea1, Shelby G Ziller2, Dylan Decker3
1Health Promotion Sciences, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.
Current Oncology (Toronto, Ont.)
|February 26, 2026
Summary
Higher abdominal fat, including visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous (SAT) adipose tissue, is linked to increased breast cancer mortality risk in postmenopausal women. This finding emphasizes the importance of body composition in cancer outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Endocrinology
- Public Health
Background:
- Elevated abdominal adipose tissue is a known risk factor for breast cancer mortality.
- Understanding the specific roles of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is crucial for prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between abdominal adipose tissue (VAT and SAT) measured by DXA and breast cancer mortality.
- To analyze these associations in a large cohort of postmenopausal women within the Women's Health Initiative study.
Main Methods:
- Utilized baseline whole-body DXA scans from 9,767 women in the Women's Health Initiative study.
- Employed competing risk models to assess the independent associations between VAT, SAT, and breast cancer-specific deaths over 27 years of follow-up.
- Incorporated time-varying analyses and adjusted for demographic, lifestyle, and tumor factors.
Main Results:
- Higher baseline VAT and SAT were significantly associated with increased breast cancer mortality risk (49% and 40%, respectively).
- Associations remained significant in adjusted models and were consistent in time-varying analyses.
- VAT and SAT levels varied widely, from undetectable to substantial amounts.
Conclusions:
- Both visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) are similarly associated with increased breast cancer mortality.
- These findings highlight the prognostic significance of abdominal adiposity in postmenopausal women.
- Further research may explore targeted interventions for managing abdominal fat to reduce breast cancer mortality.
