ASCO: BMI, menopause status linked to breast inflammation

(HealthDay)—Body mass index (BMI) and postmenopausal status are independently associated with breast white adipose tissue (WAT) inflammation, according to a study scheduled to be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's 2014 Breast Cancer Symposium, held from Sept. 4 to 6 in San Francisco.

Noting that obesity is an independent risk factor for postmenopausal but not premenopausal breast cancer, Neil M. Iyengar, M.D., from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, and colleagues examined whether menopause and BMI exert independent effects on breast WAT inflammation. WAT was prospectively collected from 238 patients (median age, 48 years). CD68 immunohistochemistry was used to detect WAT inflammation, which was defined by the presence of dead or dying adipocytes surrounded by an envelope of macrophages (crown-like structures of the breast [CLS-B]).

The researchers found that CLS-B occurrence and number of CLS-B/cm² were increased in overweight/obese versus lean and in postmenopausal versus premenopausal patients. Independent correlations were seen for BMI and postmenopausal status with the presence of CLS-B (P < 0.01 and P = 0.04, respectively) and greater CLS-B/cm² (P < 0.01 and P = 0.01, respectively). The mean adipocyte diameter was larger for postmenopausal patients than premenopausal patients.

"Breast WAT inflammation (both presence and severity), which we have previously linked to increased aromatase activity, is associated with both increased BMI and menopause," the authors write.