Effects of a 1-Year Physical Activity Intervention on Markers of Hemostasis among Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction Physical activity may reduce the development of breast cancer. Whereas hypercoagulability has been linked to adverse outcomes in breast cancer patients, the effects of physical activity on their hemostatic factors are unknown. The study aimed to assess whether long-term (1 year) physical activity can affect hemostatic factors in breast cancer patients. Methods Fifty-five women (35-75 years) with invasive breast cancer stage I/II were randomized to a physical activity intervention ( n = 29) lasting 1 year or to a control group ( n = 26), and analyzed as intention to treat. Fibrinogen, factor VII antigen, tissue factor pathway inhibitor, and von Willebrand factor (VWF) antigen as well as prothrombin fragment 1 + 2, the endogenous thrombin potential and D-dimer, were measured in plasma before intervention (baseline), and then after 6 and 12 months. Results Maximal oxygen uptake (measure of cardiorespiratory fitness) decreased the first 6 months among the controls, but remained stable in the intervention group. We found no significant differences between the two study groups regarding any of the hemostatic factors, except a significantly higher increase in factor VII antigen in the intervention group. The effect of the intervention on VWF was, however, significantly affected by menopausal stage, and a significant effect of the intervention was found on VWF among postmenopausal women, even after adjustment for dietary intake. Conclusion Long-term physical activity had no effect on the majority of the hemostatic factors measured, but led to increased plasma concentrations of factor VII antigen and prevented an increase in VWF concentration after breast cancer treatment in postmenopausal women. The clinical impact of these findings for risk of vascular thrombosis warrants further studies.

Dietary changes in early-stage breast cancer patients from pre-surgery and over the 12 months post-surgery.

The time after a breast cancer diagnosis is a potential period for making positive dietary changes, but previous results are conflicting. The main aim of the present study was to study breast cancer patients' dietary changes during the 12 months post-surgery and from 12 months pre-surgery to 12 months post-surgery with repeated administration of a 7-d pre-coded food diary and an FFQ, respectively. Women (n 506), mean age 55·3 years diagnosed with invasive breast cancer (stages I and II), were included. The dietary intake was quite stable over time, but the intake was lower for energy (0·3 and 0·4 MJ/d), alcohol (1·9 and 1·5 g/d) and vegetables (17 and 22 g/d) at 6 months than 3 weeks post-surgery (food diary) and at 12 months post-surgery than pre-surgery (FFQ), respectively. Furthermore, energy percentage (E%) from carbohydrates increased between 0·8 and 1·2 E% and E% from fat decreased between 0·6 and 0·8 E% over time, measured by both dietary assessment methods. We observed a higher intake of dairy products (11 g/d) at 6 months post-surgery (food diary), and a lower intake of dairy products (34 g/d) and red and processed meat (7·2 g/d) at 12 months post-surgery (FFQ). Moreover, 24 % of the patients claimed they made dietary changes, but mostly they did not change their diet differently compared with those patients who claimed no changes. In conclusion, breast cancer patients reported only minor dietary changes from 12 months pre-surgery and during the 12 months post-surgery.

Erratum: Inflammation of mammary adipose tissue occurs in overweight and obese patients exhibiting early-stage breast cancer.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/s41523-017-0015-9.].

Inflammation of mammary adipose tissue occurs in overweight and obese patients exhibiting early-stage breast cancer.

Growing evidence indicates that adiposity is associated with breast cancer risk and negatively affects breast cancer recurrence and survival, a paracrine role of mammary adipose tissue being very likely in this process. In contrast to other adipose depots, occurrence of a sub-inflammatory state of mammary adipose tissue defined by dying adipocytes surrounded by macrophages forming crown-like structures in overweight and obese subjects, remains only partially described. In a general population of breast cancer patients (107 patients) mostly undergoing breast-conserving surgery, we found a positive association between patient's body composition, breast adipocytes size, and presence of crown-like structures in mammary adipose tissue close to the tumor. Overweight (BMI: 25.0-29.9 kg/m2) and obese (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2) patients have 3.2 and 6.9 times higher odds ratio of crown-like structures respectively, compared with normal weight patients. The relatively small increase in adipocyte size in crown-like structures positive vs. negative patients suggests that mammary adipose tissue inflammation might occur early during hypertrophy. Our results further highlight that body mass index is an adequate predictor of the presence of crown-like structures in mammary adipose tissue among postmenopausal women, whereas in premenopausal women truncal fat percentage might be more predictive, suggesting that mammary adipose tissue inflammation is more likely to occur in patients exhibiting visceral obesity. Finally, the presence of crown-like structures was positively associated with systemic markers such as the Triglyceride/High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio serum C-reactive protein and glucose/(HbA1c) glycated Haemoglobin. These compelling results demonstrate that excess adiposity, even in overweight patients, is associated with mammary adipose tissue inflammation, an event that could contribute to breast cancer development and progression.

Perfluoroalkyl substances and ovarian hormone concentrations in naturally cycling women.

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between environmental exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and ovarian hormone concentrations in naturally cycling women. DESIGN: E2 and P were measured in saliva samples collected daily for a single menstrual cycle and concentrations of PFASs (including perfluoroctane sulfonate [PFOS] and perfluoroctanoic acid) were measured in serum samples collected during the same cycle. SETTING: Not applicable. PATIENT(S): A total of 178 healthy, naturally cycling women, aged 25-35 years. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Mean follicular E2 (cycle days -7 to -1, where 0 is the day of ovulation); mean luteal P (cycle days +2 to 10). RESULT(S): Among nulliparous, but not parous women, PFOS concentrations were inversely associated with E2 (ß = -0.025, 95% CI -0.043, -0.007) and P (ß = -0.027, 95% CI -0.048, -0.007). Similar, but weaker results were observed for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. No associations were observed between other PFASs (including perfluoroctanoic acid) and ovarian steroid concentrations, nor were any associations noted in parous women. CONCLUSION(S): Our results demonstrate that PFOS and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid may be associated with decreased production of E2 and P in reproductive age women. These results suggest a possible mechanism by which PFASs affect women's health, and underscore the importance of parity in research on PFASs and women's reproductive health.