Trends in chemotherapy use for early-stage breast cancer from 2006 to 2019.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about how use of chemotherapy has evolved in breast cancer patients. We therefore describe chemotherapy patterns for women with stage I-IIIA breast cancer in the Optimal Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Dosing (OBCD) Study using data from KPNC (Kaiser Permanente Northern California) and KPWA (Kaiser Permanente Washington). FINDINGS: Among 33,670 women, aged 18 + y, diagnosed with primary stage I-IIIA breast cancer at KPNC and KPWA from 2006 to 2019, we explored patterns of intravenous chemotherapy use, defined here as receipt of intravenous cytotoxic drugs and/or anti-HER2 therapies. We evaluated trends in chemotherapy receipt, duration over which chemotherapy was received, and number of associated infusion visits. In secondary analyses, we stratified by receipt of anti-HER2 therapies (trastuzumab and/or pertuzumab), given their longer duration. 38.9% received chemotherapy intravenously, declining from 40.2% in 2006 to 35.6% in 2019 (p-trend < 0.001). Among 13,089 women receiving chemotherapy, neoadjuvant treatment increased (4.1-14.7%; p-trend < 0.001), as did receipt of anti-HER2 therapies (20.8-30.9%) (p-trend < 0.001). The average treatment duration increased (5.3 to 6.0 months; p-trend < 0.001), as did the number of infusion visits (10.8 to 12.5; p-trend < 0.001). For those receiving anti-HER2 therapies, treatment duration and average number of visits decreased; among those not receiving anti-HER2 therapies, number of visits increased, with no change in duration. CONCLUSIONS: While the prevalence of chemotherapy receipt has decreased over time, the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy has increased, as has use of anti-HER2 therapies; duration and number of administration visits have also increased. Understanding these trends is useful to inform clinical and administrative planning.

Patient characteristics associated with delayed time to adjuvant chemotherapy among women treated for stage I-IIIA breast cancer.

For patients with breast cancer, delays in chemotherapy initiation have been adversely associated with recurrence and survival. We evaluated patient-level factors associated with delayed chemotherapy initiation, from both diagnosis and surgery, in a community-based cohort of women with early-stage breast cancer. For the Optimal Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Dosing study, we identified a cohort of 34,109 women diagnosed with stage I-IIIA breast cancer at two U.S. integrated healthcare delivery systems between 2004 and 2019. We used logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to identify patient factors associated with delays in chemotherapy initiation after diagnosis (≥90 days) and surgery (≥60 days). Among 10,968 women receiving adjuvant chemotherapy, 21.1% experienced delays in chemotherapy initiation after diagnosis and 21.3% after surgery. Older age, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic race and ethnicity, and ER+ and/or PR+ disease were associated with increased likelihood of delays to chemotherapy initiation after diagnosis and surgery. People diagnosed in 2012-2019 (vs. 2005-2011), with a higher grade and larger tumor size were less likely to experience delays. Other factors were associated with a higher likelihood of delays specifically from diagnosis (earlier stage, mastectomy vs. breast-conserving surgery), or surgery (higher comorbidity, increased nodal number). Women diagnosed with breast cancer who were at highest risk of progression and recurrence were less likely to experience delays in chemotherapy initiation after diagnosis and surgery. Understanding reasons for chemotherapy delays beyond patient factors may be potentially important to reduce risk of breast cancer recurrence and progression.

Association between Neighborhood Stressors and Allostatic Load in Breast Cancer Survivors: The Pathways Study.

Allostatic load (AL) is an intermediary outcome through which neighborhood drivers of health may impact cancer survivorship outcomes. We examined associations of neighborhood stressors and AL in 2,553 women with breast cancer recruited into the Pathways Study in 2006-2013. AL score was derived from biomarkers in the cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune domains of physiological stress measured within 3 years after baseline. Neighborhood data were appended to participants' geocoded baseline addresses. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to estimate associations between neighborhood stressors and risk of higher AL score. Adjusting for age and stage, high AL was positively associated with low versus high neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES; OR=2.24, 95% CI=1.61-3.12) and green space (OR=1.55, 95% CI=1.18-2.03); high versus low traffic (OR=1.32, 95% CI=1.01-1.72), crime (OR=1.32, 95% CI=1.05-1.67), and household crowding (OR=1.57, 95% CI=1.22-2.01); and more versus no fast-food restaurants (OR=1.50, 95% CI=1.21-1.84). Associations remained for nSES and fast-food restaurants after co-adjustment with other neighborhood stressors, and for fast-food restaurants after additional adjustment with individual sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Our preliminary findings can inform further studies of the physiological effects of neighborhood stressors, which collectively may help improve survivorship outcomes for the growing population of breast cancer survivors.

Assessment of breast cancer chemotherapy dose reduction in an integrated healthcare delivery system.

PURPOSE: Most cytotoxic drugs are dosed using body surface area (BSA), yet not all cancer patients receive the full BSA-determined dose. Prior work suggests that breast cancer patients who are obese are more likely to experience dose reduction than normal weight patients. However, the factors driving dose reduction remain unclear. METHODS: In 452 women diagnosed with stage I-IIIA primary breast cancer at Kaiser Permanente Northern California, we evaluated the association between obesity and dose reduction, and further explored other factors in relation to dose reduction, including various sociodemographic characteristics, tumor characteristics, and comorbidities. Study participants were a part of the Pathways Study, diagnosed between 2006 and 2013 and treated with cyclophosphamide + doxorubicin, followed by paclitaxel (ACT). Dose reduction was assessed using first cycle dose proportion (FCDP) and average relative dose intensity (ARDI), a metric of dose intensity over the course of chemotherapy. RESULTS: Overall, 8% of participants received a FCDP < 90% and 21.2% had an ARDI < 90%, with dose reduction increasing with body mass index. In adjusted logistic regression models, obese women had 4.1-fold higher odds of receiving an ARDI < 90% than normal weight women (95% CI: 1.9-8.9; p-trend = 0.0006). Increasing age was positively associated with an ADRI < 90%, as was the presence of comorbidity. Dose reduction was less common in later calendar years. CONCLUSION: Results offer insight on factors associated with chemotherapy dosing for a common breast cancer regimen. Larger studies are required to evaluate relevance to other regimens, and further work will be needed to determine whether dose reductions impact outcomes in obese women.

A prospective study of vitamin D, proinflammatory cytokines, and risk of fragility fractures in women on aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D is critical to bone health by regulating intestinal absorption of calcium, whereas proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-1, IL-6, IL-12, and TNF-α, are known to increase bone resorption. We hypothesized that vitamin D and these cytokines at the time of breast cancer diagnosis were predictive for fragility fractures in women receiving aromatase inhibitors (AIs). METHODS: In a prospective cohort of 1,709 breast cancer patients treated with AIs, we measured the levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-12, and TNF-α from baseline blood samples. The associations of these biomarkers were analyzed with bone turnover markers (BALP and TRACP), bone regulatory markers (OPG and RANKL), bone mineral density (BMD) close to cancer diagnosis, and risk of fragility fractures during a median of 7.5 years of follow up. RESULTS: Compared to patients with vitamin D deficiency, patients with sufficient levels had higher bone turnover, lower BMD, and higher fracture risk; the latter became non-significant after controlling for covariates including BMD and no longer existed when patients taking vitamin D supplement or bisphosphonates or with history of fracture or osteoporosis were excluded. There was a non-significant trend of higher levels of IL-1ß and TNF-α associated with higher risk of fracture (highest vs. lowest tertile, IL-1ß: adjusted HR=1.37, 95% CI=0.94-1.99; TNF-α: adjusted HR=1.38, 95% CI=0.96-1.98). CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not support proinflammatory cytokines or vitamin D levels as predictors for risk of fragility fractures in women receiving AIs for breast cancer.

The Influence of Dietary Isothiocyanates on the Effectiveness of Mitomycin C and Bacillus Calmette-Guérin in Treating Nonmuscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer.

PURPOSE: Nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) has high recurrence rates and is often treated with mitomycin C (MMC) and bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). Their efficacy relies on phase 2 enzyme metabolism and immune response activation, respectively. Dietary isothiocyanates, phytochemicals in cruciferous vegetables, are phase 2 enzyme inducers and immunomodulators, and may impact treatment outcomes. We investigated the modifying effects of cruciferous vegetable and isothiocyanate intake on recurrence risk following MMC or BCG treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Self-reported cruciferous vegetable intake, estimated isothiocyanate intake, and urinary isothiocyanate metabolites were collected from 1158 patients with incident NMIBC in the prospective Be-Well Study. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs were calculated from Cox proportional hazards regression models for risk of first recurrences, and random effects Cox shared frailty models for multiple recurrences. RESULTS: Over median follow-up of 23 months, 343 (30%) recurrences occurred. Receipt of MMC and BCG was associated with decreased risks of first recurrence (MMC: HR = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.46-0.73; BCG: HR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.49-0.88) and multiple recurrences (MMC: HR = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.44-0.68; BCG: HR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.55-0.95). Patients receiving BCG and having high intake (>2.4 servings/mo), but not low intake, of raw cruciferous vegetables had reduced risk of recurrence (HR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.36-0.86; P for interaction = .02) and multiple recurrences (HR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.34-0.77; P for interaction < .001). The inverse association between MMC receipt and recurrence risk was not modified. CONCLUSIONS: For NMIBC patients who receive induction BCG, increasing consumption of raw cruciferous vegetables could be a promising strategy to attenuate recurrence risk.

Impact of Racial/Ethnic Discrimination on Quality of Life Among Breast Cancer Survivors.

Although racial/ethnic disparities in health-care access, treatment, and cancer outcomes are well documented, the impact of racial/ethnic discrimination on cancer survivorship is unclear. We examined associations between quality of life (QoL) and self-reported discrimination among 3,991 women with breast cancer recruited during 2006-2013 from the Pathways Study in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California integrated health-care system, using linear regression models. Overall, 31% of women reported experiencing racial/ethnic discrimination, with differences by race/ethnicity (82% among non-Hispanic Black women vs. 19% among non-Hispanic White women) and nativity (40% among foreign-born Hispanic women vs. 76% among US-born Asian-American women). Experiencing racial/ethnic discrimination was associated with lower QoL in fully adjusted models. The mean QoL score was 119.6 (95% confidence interval (CI): 102.0, 137.1) for women who did not report discrimination, 115.5 (95% CI: 98.0, 133.0) for those who reported some discrimination/less than the median level, and 110.2 (95% CI: 92.7, 127.7) for those who reported more discrimination/greater than or equal to the median level. Discrimination was associated with lower QoL among women who used passive coping strategies or lived in neighborhoods with high neighborhood socioeconomic status, neighborhoods with high levels of segregation, or non-ethnic enclaves. Among breast cancer survivors, clinically meaningful differences in QoL scores were associated with racial/ethnic discrimination. Additional studies are needed to understand potential pathways through which these social factors affect survivorship outcomes.

Environmental and Occupational Exposures and Prognosis in Patients with Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer in the Be-Well Study.

Bladder cancer is primarily diagnosed as non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with high recurrence and progression rates. Environmental and occupational exposures to carcinogens are well-known risk factors for developing bladder cancer, yet their effects on prognosis remain unknown. In the Be-Well Study, a population-based prospective cohort study of 1,472 patient with newly diagnosed NMIBC from 2015 to 2019, we examined history of environmental and occupational exposures in relation to tumor stage and grade at initial diagnosis by multivariable logistic regression, and subsequent recurrence and progression by Cox proportional hazards regression. Exposure to environmental and occupational carcinogens was significantly associated with increased risk of progression (HR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.04, 3.09), specifically increased progression into muscle-invasive disease (HR = 2.28; 95% CI: 1.16, 4.50). Exposure to asbestos and arsenic were associated with increased odds of advanced stage at diagnosis (asbestos: OR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.84; arsenic, OR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.63), and formaldehyde exposure was associated with increased risk of recurrence (HR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.69). Our findings suggest that history of these exposures may benefit current risk stratification systems to tailor clinical care and improve prognosis in patients with NMIBC.

Alcohol consumption and prognosis and survival in breast cancer survivors: The Pathways Study.

BACKGROUND: The impact of alcohol consumption on breast cancer (BC) prognosis remains unclear. METHODS: The authors examined short-term alcohol intake in relation to recurrence and mortality in 3659 women who were diagnosed with stage I-IV BC from 2003 to 2013 in the Pathways Study. Alcohol drinking in the past 6 months was assessed at cohort entry (mean, 2 months postdiagnosis) and 6 months later using a food-frequency questionnaire. Study end points were recurrence and death from BC, cardiovascular disease, and all causes. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: Over an average follow-up of 11.2 years, 524 recurrences and 834 deaths (369 BC-specific and 314 cardiovascular disease-specific) occurred. Compared with nondrinkers (36.9%), drinkers were more likely younger, more educated, and current or past smokers. Overall, alcohol consumption was not associated with recurrence or mortality. However, women with higher body mass index (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 ) had lower risk of overall mortality with increasing alcohol consumption for occasional drinking (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.54-0.94) and regular drinking (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.56-1.08) around the time of diagnosis, along with 6 months later, in a dose-response manner (p < .05). Women with lower BMI (<30 kg/m2 ) were not at higher risk of mortality but were at possibly higher, yet nonsignificant, risk of recurrence for occasional drinking (HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 0.97-1.71) and regular drinking (HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.88-1.62). CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol drinking around the time of and up to 6 months after BC diagnosis was associated with lower risk of all-cause mortality in obese women. A possible higher risk of recurrence was observed in nonobese women.

Neighborhood attributes and cardiovascular disease risk in breast cancer survivors: The Pathways Study.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer survivors are at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality compared with the general population. The impact of objective social and built neighborhood attributes on CVD risk in a cohort of female breast cancer survivors was examined. METHODS: The 3975 participants came from the Pathways Study, a prospective cohort of women with invasive breast cancer from an integrated health care system in northern California. Women diagnosed with breast cancer from 2006 through 2013 were enrolled on average approximately 2 months after diagnosis. Their baseline addresses were geocoded and appended to neighborhood attributes for racial/ethnic composition, socioeconomic status (SES), population density, urbanization, crime, traffic density, street connectivity, parks, recreational facilities, and retail food environment. Incident CVD events included ischemic heart disease, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, or stroke. Cox proportional hazards models estimated associations of neighborhood attributes with CVD risk, which accounted for clustering by block groups. Fully adjusted models included sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral factors. RESULTS: During follow-up through December 31, 2018, 340 participants (8.6%) had CVD events. A neighborhood racial/ethnic composition measure, percent of Asian American/Pacific Islander residents (lowest quintile hazard ratio [HR], 1.85; 95% CI, 1.03-3.33), and crime index (highest quartile HR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.08-2.03) were associated with the risk of CVD events independent of individual SES, hormone receptor status, treatment, cardiometabolic comorbidities, body mass index, and physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: With the application of a socio-ecological framework, how residential environments shape health outcomes in women with breast cancer and affect CVD risk in this growing population can be understood.

Development of cardiometabolic risk factors following endocrine therapy in women with breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Studies comparing the effect of aromatase inhibitor (AI) and tamoxifen use on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (BC) survivors report conflicting results. We examined associations of endocrine therapy use with incident diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. METHODS: The Pathways Heart Study examines cancer treatment exposures with CVD-related outcomes in Kaiser Permanente Northern California members with BC. Electronic health records provided sociodemographic and health characteristics, BC treatment, and CVD risk factor data. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of incident diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension in hormone receptor-positive BC survivors using AIs or tamoxifen compared with survivors not using endocrine therapy were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression models adjusted for known confounders. RESULTS: In 8985 BC survivors, mean baseline age and follow-up time was 63.3 and 7.8 years, respectively; 83.6% were postmenopausal. By treatment, 77.0% used AIs, 19.6% used tamoxifen, and 16.0% used neither. Postmenopausal women who used tamoxifen had an increased rate (HR 1.43, 95% CI 1.06-1.92) of developing hypertension relative to those who did not use endocrine therapy. Tamoxifen use was not associated with incident diabetes, dyslipidemia, or hypertension in premenopausal BC survivors. Postmenopausal AI users had higher hazard rates of developing diabetes (HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.05-1.80), dyslipidemia (HR 1.58, 95% CI 1.29-1.92), and hypertension (HR 1.50, 95% CI 1.24-1.82) compared with non-endocrine therapy users. CONCLUSION: Hormone receptor-positive BC survivors treated with AIs may have higher rates of developing diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension over an average 7.8 years post-diagnosis.

Results and lessons from dual extraction of DNA and RNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded breast tumor tissues for a large Cancer epidemiologic study.

BACKGROUND: The use of archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissues has become a common practice in clinical and epidemiologic genetic research. Simultaneous extraction of DNA and RNA from FFPE tissues is appealing but can be practically challenging. Here we report our results and lessons learned from processing FFPE breast tumor tissues for a large epidemiologic study. METHODS: Qiagen AllPrep DNA/RNA FFPE kit was adapted for dual extraction using tissue punches or sections from breast tumor tissues. The yield was quantified using Qubit and fragmentation analysis by Agilent Bioanalyzer. A subset of the DNA samples were used for genome-wide DNA methylation assays and RNA samples for sequencing. The QC metrices and performance of the assays were analyzed with pre-analytical variables. RESULTS: A total of 1859 FFPE breast tumor tissues were processed. We found it critical to adjust proteinase K digestion time based on tissue volume to achieve balanced yields of DNA and RNA. Tissue punches taken from tumor-enriched regions provided the most reliable output. A median of 1475 ng DNA and 1786 ng RNA per sample was generated. The median DNA integrity number (DIN) was 3.8 and median DV200 for RNA was 33.2. Of 1294 DNA samples used in DNA methylation assays, 97% passed quality check by qPCR and 92% generated data deemed high quality. Of the 130 RNA samples with DV200 ≥ 20% used in RNA-sequencing, all but 5 generated usable transcriptomic data with a mapping rate ≥ 60%. CONCLUSIONS: Dual DNA/RNA purification using Qiagen AllPrep FFPE extraction protocol is feasible for clinical and epidemiologic studies. We recommend tissue punches as a reliable source material and fine tuning of proteinase K digestion time based on tissue volume. IMPACT: Our protocol and recommendations may be adapted by future studies for successful extraction of archived tumor tissues.

Risk of heart failure with preserved versus reduced ejection fraction in women with breast cancer.

PURPOSE: While clinical heart failure (HF) is recognized as an adverse effect from breast cancer (BC) treatment, sparse data exist on specific HF phenotypes in affected BC survivors. We examined risk of HF by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) status in women with a history of BC. METHODS: 14,804 women diagnosed with all stages of invasive BC from 2005 to 2013 and with no history of HF were matched 1:5 to 74,034 women without BC on birth year, race, and ethnicity. LVEF values were extracted from echocardiography studies within 30 days before through 90 days after the HF clinical encounter. HF was stratified into HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF, LVEF ≥ 45%) and HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF, LVEF < 45%). Cumulative incidence rates (CIRs) were estimated with competing risk of overall death. Hazard ratios (HR) were calculated by multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: Mean time to HF diagnosis was 5.31 years (range 0.03-13.03) in cases and 5.25 years (range 0.01-12.94) in controls. 10-year CIRs were 1.2% and 0.9% for overall HF, 0.8% and 0.7% for HFpEF, and 0.4% and 0.2% for HFrEF in cases and controls, respectively. In fully adjusted models, an overall significant increased risk of HF in cases versus controls was observed (HR: 1.31, 95% CI 1.14, 1.51). The increased risk was seen for both HFrEF (HR: 1.59, 95% CI 1.22, 2.08) and HFpEF (HR: 1.22; 95% CI 1.03, 1.45). CONCLUSION: BC survivors experienced higher risk of HF compared with women without BC, and the risk persisted across LVEF phenotypes. Systematic cardio-oncology surveillance should be considered to mitigate this risk in BC patients.

Modeling risks of cardiovascular and cancer mortality following a diagnosis of loco-regional breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Many women with breast cancer also have a high likelihood of cardiovascular mortality, and while there are several cardiovascular risk prediction models, none have been validated in a cohort of breast cancer patients. We first compared the performance of commonly-used cardiovascular models, and then derived a new model where breast cancer and cardiovascular mortality were modeled simultaneously, to account for the competing risk endpoints and commonality of risk factors between the two events. METHODS: We included 20,462 women diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer between 2000 and 2010 in Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) with follow-up through April 30, 2015, and examined the performance of the Framingham, CORE and SCOREOP cardiovascular risk models by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and observed-to -expected (O/E) ratio. We developed a multi-state model based on cause-specific hazards (CSH) to jointly model the causes of mortality. RESULTS: The extended models including breast cancer characteristics (grade, tumor size, nodal involvement) with CVD risk factors had better discrimination at 5-years with AUCs of 0.85 (95% CI 0.83, 0.86) for cardiovascular death and 0.80 (95% CI 0.78, 0.87) for breast cancer death compared with the existing cardiovascular models evaluated at 5 years AUCs ranging 0.71-0.78. Five-year calibration for breast and cardiovascular mortality from our multi-state model was also excellent (O/E = 1.01, 95% CI 0.91-1.11). CONCLUSION: A model incorporating cardiovascular risk factors, breast cancer characteristics, and competing events, outperformed traditional models of cardiovascular disease by simultaneously estimating cancer and cardiovascular mortality risks.

Serum bone markers and risk of osteoporosis and fragility fractures in women who received endocrine therapy for breast cancer: a prospective study.

PURPOSE: Osteoporosis and fragility fracture are major bone toxicities of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) for postmenopausal hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Except for a few small studies on bone turnover markers and reduced bone mineral density after AI treatment, data on the associations of bone markers and risk of osteoporosis or fracture from prospective studies are lacking. METHODS: In a prospective study of 1709 women on AIs, two bone turnover markers, BALP and TRACP, and two bone regulatory markers, RANKL and OPG, were measured and examined in relation to risk of osteoporosis and fragility fractures during a median follow-up time of 6.1 years. RESULTS: Higher levels of BALP and TRACP were both associated with increased risk of osteoporosis and higher BALP/TRACP ratios were associated with lower risk of osteoporosis, but no associations were observed for fracture risk. Higher levels of OPG were associated with increased risk of fracture, whereas higher levels of RANKL were associated with lower risk. As a result, OPG/RANKL ratios were positively associated with fracture risk [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34-4.61]. After controlling for age and fracture history, the associations became non-significant but a suggestive trend remained (HR = 1.80, 95% CI 0.96-3.37). CONCLUSION: Our study provides suggestive evidence for the potential utility of OPG/RANKL ratios in predicting risk of fracture in women treated with AIs for breast cancer. Further validation may be warranted.

Distinct trajectories of fruits and vegetables, dietary fat, and alcohol intake following a breast cancer diagnosis: the Pathways Study.

PURPOSE: To identify distinct diet trajectories after breast cancer (BC) diagnosis, and to examine the characteristics associated with diet trajectories. METHODS: We analyzed 2865 Pathways Study participants who completed ≥ 2 food frequency questionnaires at the time of BC diagnosis (baseline), and at 6 and 24 months after baseline. Trajectory groups of fruit and vegetable (F/V) intake, % calories from dietary fat, and alcohol intake over 24 months were identified using group-based trajectory modeling. Associations between diet trajectories and sociodemographic, psychosocial, and clinical factors were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Analyses identified 3 F/V trajectory groups, 4 dietary fat groups, and 3 alcohol groups. All 3 F/V trajectory groups reported slightly increased F/V intake post-diagnosis (mean increase = 0.2-0.5 serving/day), while 2 groups (48% of participants) persistently consumed < 4 servings/day of F/V. Dietary fat intake did not change post-diagnosis, with 45% of survivors maintaining a high-fat diet (> 40% of calories from fat). While most survivors consumed < 1 drink/day of alcohol at all times, 21% of survivors had 1.4-3.0 drinks/day at baseline and temporarily decreased to 0.1-0.5 drinks/day at 6 months. In multivariable analysis, diet trajectory groups were significantly associated with education (ORs: 1.93-2.49), income (ORs: 1.32-2.57), optimism (ORs: 1.93-2.49), social support (OR = 1.82), and changes in physical well-being (ORs: 0.58-0.61) and neuropathy symptoms after diagnosis (ORs: 1.29-1.66). CONCLUSIONS: Pathways Study participants reported slightly increasing F/V and decreasing alcohol intake after BC diagnosis. Nearly half of survivors consumed insufficient F/V and excessive dietary fat. It is important to prioritize nutrition counseling and education in BC survivors.

The Be-Well Study: a prospective cohort study of lifestyle and genetic factors to reduce the risk of recurrence and progression of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

PURPOSE: Bladder cancer is one of the top five cancers diagnosed in the U.S. with a high recurrence rate, and also one of the most expensive cancers to treat over the life-course. However, there are few observational, prospective studies of bladder cancer survivors. METHODS: The Bladder Cancer Epidemiology, Wellness, and Lifestyle Study (Be-Well Study) is a National Cancer Institute-funded, multi-center prospective cohort study of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients (Stage Ta, T1, Tis) enrolled from the Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) and Southern California (KPSC) health care systems, with genotyping and biomarker assays performed at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. The goal is to investigate diet and lifestyle factors in recurrence and progression of NMIBC, with genetic profiles considered, and to build a resource for future NMIBC studies. RESULTS: Recruitment began in February 2015. As of 30 June 2018, 1,281 patients completed the baseline interview (774 KPNC, 511 KPSC) with a recruitment rate of 54%, of whom 77% were male and 23% female, and 80% White, 6% Black, 8% Hispanic, 5% Asian, and 2% other race/ethnicity. Most patients were diagnosed with Ta (69%) or T1 (27%) tumors. Urine and blood specimens were collected from 67% and 73% of consented patients at baseline, respectively. To date, 599 and 261 patients have completed the 12- and 24-month follow-up questionnaires, respectively, with additional urine and saliva collection. CONCLUSIONS: The Be-Well Study will be able to answer novel questions related to diet, other lifestyle, and genetic factors and their relationship to recurrence and progression among early-stage bladder cancer patients.

Changes in bone mineral density in women with breast cancer receiving aromatase inhibitor therapy.

PURPOSE: We assessed bone mineral density (BMD) change with aromatase inhibitor (AI) treatment in a contemporary cohort of women with breast cancer treated in Kaiser Permanente Northern California. METHODS: Percent and estimated annual percent changes in BMD at the total hip and lumbar spine were examined in 676 women receiving AI therapy who had two serial BMD reports available (at least 1 year apart) before and after AI initiation (N = 317) or during continued AI therapy (N = 359). BMD changes were examined at the total hip and lumbar spine and compared by age and clinical subgroups. RESULTS: Women experienced BMD declines after AI initiation or continued therapy, with median annual percent change - 1.2% (interquartile range, IQR - 2.4 to - 0.1%) at the hip and - 1.0% (IQR - 2.3 to 0.1%) at the spine after AI initiation, and - 1.1% (IQR - 2.4 to 0.1%) at the hip and - 0.9% (IQR - 2.4 to 0.5%) at the spine during continued therapy. Higher levels of bone loss were observed among younger (< 55 years) compared with older (≥ 75 years) women at the hip (- 1.6% vs. - 0.8%) and at the spine (- 1.5% vs. - 0.5%) after AI initiation, and at the hip (- 1.4% vs. - 1.2%) and at the spine (- 2.4% vs. - 0.001%) during continued therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Small but consistent declines in total hip and lumbar spine BMD were present in breast cancer patients following AI therapy initiation or continued AI therapy. Although the overall rates of osteoporosis were low, greater estimated levels of annual bone loss were evident among women < 55 years.

Understanding racial/ethnic differences in breast cancer-related physical well-being: the role of patient-provider interactions.

PURPOSE: Racial/ethnic differences in cancer symptom burden are well documented, but limited research has evaluated modifiable factors underlying these differences. Our objective was to examine the role of patient-provider interactions to help explain the relationship between race/ethnicity and cancer-specific physical well-being (PWB) among women with breast cancer. METHODS: The Pathways Study is a prospective cohort study of 4505 women diagnosed with breast cancer at Kaiser Permanente Northern California between 2006 and 2013. Our analysis included white, black, Hispanic, and Asian participants who completed baseline assessments of PWB, measured using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for Breast Cancer, and patient-provider interactions, measured by the Interpersonal Processes of Care Survey (IPC) (N = 4002). Using step-wise linear regression, we examined associations of race/ethnicity with PWB, and changes in associations when IPC domains were added. RESULTS: We observed racial/ethnic differences in PWB, with minorities reporting lower scores than whites (beta, black: - 1.79; beta, Hispanic: - 1.92; beta, Asian: - 1.68; p < 0.0001 for all comparisons). With the addition of health and demographic covariates to the model, associations between race/ethnicity and PWB score became attenuated for blacks and Asians (beta: - 0.63, p = 0.06; beta: - 0.68, p = 0.02, respectively) and, to a lesser extent, for Hispanic women (beta: - 1.06, p = 0.0003). Adjusting for IPC domains did not affect Hispanic-white differences (beta: - 1.08, p = 0.0002), and slightly attenuated black-white differences (beta: - 0.51, p = 0.14). Asian-white differences narrowed substantially (beta: - 0.31, p = 0.28). CONCLUSIONS: IPC domains, including those capturing perceived discrimination, respect, and clarity of communication, appeared to partly explain PWB differences for black and Asian women. Results highlight opportunities to improve providers' interactions with minority patients, and communication with minority patients about their supportive care needs.

Bone remodeling and regulating biomarkers in women at the time of breast cancer diagnosis.

PURPOSE: The majority of breast cancer patients receive endocrine therapy, including aromatase inhibitors known to cause increased bone resorption. Bone-related biomarkers at the time of breast cancer diagnosis may predict future risk of osteoporosis and fracture after endocrine therapy. METHODS: In a large population of 2,401 female breast cancer patients who later underwent endocrine therapy, we measured two bone remodeling biomarkers, TRAP5b and BAP, and two bone regulating biomarkers, RANKL and OPG, in serum samples collected at the time of breast cancer diagnosis. We analyzed these biomarkers and their ratios with patients' demographic, lifestyle, clinical tumor characteristics, as well as bone health history. RESULTS: The presence of bone metastases, prior bisphosphonate (BP) treatment, and blood collection after chemotherapy had a significant impact on biomarker levels. After excluding these cases and controlling for blood collection time, several factors, including age, race/ethnicity, body mass index, physical activity, alcohol consumption, smoking, and hormonal replacement therapy, were significantly associated with bone biomarkers, while vitamin D or calcium supplements and tumor characteristics were not. When prior BP users were included in, recent history of osteoporosis and fracture was also associated. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support further investigation of these biomarkers with bone health outcomes after endocrine therapy initiation in women with breast cancer.