Impact of Chemotherapy Regimens on Body Composition of Breast Cancer Women: A Multicenter Study across Four Brazilian Regions.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of chemotherapy (CT) and its different types of regimens on the anthropometry and body composition of women with breast cancer. Three-hundred-and-four women with breast cancer were enrolled in this multicenter study. The participants were evaluated before the infusion of the first cycle of CT (pre-CT), and until two weeks after CT completion (post-CT), regarding body weight, body mass index (BMI); waist circumference (WC); waist-to-height ratio (WHtR); conicity index (C-index); fat mass index (FMI); and fat-free mass index (FFMI). CT regimens were classified as anthracycline-based (AC-doxorubicin or epirubicin); anthracyclines and taxane (ACT); cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (CMF); or isolated taxanes (paclitaxel or docetaxel). Women significantly increased BMI and FMI post-CT (p < 0.001 and p = 0.007, respectively). The ACT regimen increased FMI (p < 0.001), while FFMI increased after AC (p = 0.007). It is concluded that the CT negatively impacted body composition and the type of regime had a strong influence. The ACT regimen promoted an increase in FMI compared to other regimens, and the AC increased FFMI. These findings reinforce the importance of nutritional monitoring of breast cancer patients throughout the entire CT treatment.

The influence of body composition on quality of life of patients with breast cancer / Influencia de la composición corporal en la calidad de vida de los pacientes con cáncer de mama

INTRODUCTION: Unwanted changes in body composition, as well as their impact on these people's quality of life, have been little investigated in patients with breast cancer. OBJETIVE: To assess the role of body composition on quality of life and the impact of chemotherapy on both, in women with breast cancer. METHODS: It was assessed prospectively women with breast cancer in a cohort of patients undergoing chemotherapy. Body composition was estimated through bioelectrical impedance. The quality of life was evaluated using the World Health Organization quality of life questionnaire. RESULTS: This study assessed 70 women, 77 and 73% of those were initially overweight and had excess of body fat, respectively. There was a significant increase in fat-free mass (p > 0.001), body mass index (p = 0.03) and weight (p = 0.02) while quality of life stayed the same during the study. Moreover, women with excess of body fat showed a significantly lower initial general health score, compared to those with normal body fat (p = 0.02).CONCLUSIONS: Chemotherapy proved to be a potential inducer in the weight gain in this population. We highlight the importance of further investigation about the impact of body fat accumulation on those women's quality of life (AU)

Introducción: Los cambios no deseados en la composición corporal, así como el impacto de éstos en la calidad de vida de esta población, han sido poco investigados. Objetivo: Evaluar el rol de la composición corporal en la calidad de vida, y el impacto de la quimioterapia en ambos, en mujeres con cáncer de mama. Métodos: Se evaluaron prospectivamente las mujeres con cáncer de mama en una cohorte de pacientes sometidos a quimioterapia. La composición corporal se estimó mediante la impedancia bioeléctrica. La calidad de vida se evaluó mediante el cuestionario de calidad de vida de la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Resultados: Se evaluaron 70 mujeres, de las cuales el 77 y 73% tuvieron inicialmente sobrepeso y exceso de grasa corporal, respectivamente. Se observó un aumento significativo en la masa libre de grasa (p < 0,001), el índice de masa corporal (P = 0,03) y el peso (p = 0,02), mientras que la calidad de vida se mantuvo igual durante el período. Por otra parte, las mujeres con exceso de grasa corporal, mostraron una puntuación general de salud inicial significativamente menor, en comparación con aquellas con grasa corporal normal (p = 0,02). Conclusiones: La quimioterapia ha demostrado ser un inductor potencial del incremento de peso en esta población. Destacamos la importancia de nuevas investigaciones sobre el impacto de la acumulación de grasa corporal en la calidad de vida de estas mujeres (AU)