Abstract C44: Cancer staging and body mass index in Latina breast cancer survivors
Authors: Orozco Breanna , Mortimer Joanne E. , Spicer Darcy , Tripathy Debu , Dieli-Conwright Christina M. 
Published: May 2016

Introduction: Cancer stage is one of the strongest predictors of survival in patients with breast cancer. Body mass index (BMI), is used to assess body weight and size, and is associated with cancer incidence, prognosis, and mortality. More advanced stages of breast cancer are observed in overweight postmenopausal women. The association of cancer staging with BMI has not been investigated in Latino women. Breast cancer is more common among white women, but Latino women experience poorer breast cancer outcomes, a later stage at presentation of breast cancer, and an increased risk of death from breast cancer. Comorbidities related to obesity that are detrimental to cancer prognosis are more prevalent among Latinas compared to their white counterpart. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between BMI and stage at presentation of breast cancer in Latino women diagnosed with breast cancer. Methods: Eligible participants (n=40; including 16 premenopausal and 24 postmenopausal cases) included sedentary Latino women diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer who were enrolled in a larger ongoing exercise intervention trial. Height and weight measurements were collected at baseline (within 6 months from the completion of chemotherapy and/or radiation) and used to calculate BMI (kg/m2). BMI was categorized into the following classifications based on the World Health Organization: underweight (&lt;18.5), normal (18.5-24.9), and overweight (25-29.9), and obese (&gt;30). Cancer stage at presentation was obtained from medical records at the time of study enrollment. Chi-square analysis was used to explore the associations between stage and BMI. Results: Average BMI for the study population was 30.7±5.1 kg/m2. Frequency of cancer staging is as follows; 19- Stage I, 13- Stage II, and 8- Stage III. Study participants categorized with a normal BMI (n=5) included: 60% Stage I and 40% Stage II. Participants categorized as overweight (n=15) included: 40% Stage I, 26.7% Stage II, and 33.3% Stage III. Participants categorized as obese (n=20) included: 50% Stage I, 35% Stage II, and 15% Stage III. No association was found between cancer stage and BMI (p=0.52). Results did not differ based on menopausal status. Conclusion: The results of this exploratory study found no significant association between cancer stage and BMI in Latino women diagnosed with breast cancer. As the majority of study participants were classified as overweight and obese, the distribution of BMI may have led to the negative results. Further investigations should continue in this area to determine whether this association exists in a larger sample of Latino women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Citation Format: Breanna Orozco, Joanne E. Mortimer, Darcy Spicer, Debu Tripathy, Christina M. Dieli-Conwright. Cancer staging and body mass index in Latina breast cancer survivors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr C44.