Impact of change in body mass index during neoadjuvant chemotherapy and survival among breast cancer subtypes

Purpose We hypothesized that an increase in BMI category during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) would be associated with pathological complete response (pCR) rate and worse survival outcomes in primary breast cancer patients. Methods We reviewed the records of 4029 patients with stage I-III breast cancer who had undergone NAC and definitive surgery at our institution between May 1, 1990 and April 30, 2013. BMI values at baseline and after NAC were recorded, and the corresponding BMI category was assessed with the WHO classification. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and multivariate Cox regression models were used to estimate the effect of covariates of interest on OS and RFS. Results The median follow-up period was 3.95 years. A change in BMI category from normal to obese during NAC was independently associated with shorter OS duration than was maintaining a normal weight [hazard ratio (HR) 1.637; 95%CI 1.066-2.514; p = 0.0242]. Kaplan-Meier curves among breast cancer subtypes showed differences, and a decrease in BMI led to better RFS and OS rates in obese patients with HR+/HER2- disease; those who maintained BMI also showed better prognosis for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We saw no association between BMI change and pCR rate. Conclusion Our data suggest that inability to maintain normal weight during NAC is a predictive marker of poor survival but not pCR. It may be important for patients to maintain a normal weight during NAC.