Journal of International Oncology ›› 2025, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (12): 745-757.doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn371439-20241125-00128

• Original Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Relationship between body mass indexes and survival prognosis of breast cancer patients with different menopausal status and molecular subtypes

Yipala·Yilihamu 1, Ma Tao1, Wang Yan2, Gao Chunjie1, Liu Jing1, Zhao Ting3, Wang Lei4()   

  1. 1College of Public HealthXinjiang Medical UniversityUrumqi 830000,China
    2Research Office of Tumor Prevention and TreatmentAffiliated Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical UniversityUrumqi 830000,China
    3Department of Medical Record ManagementAffiliated Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical UniversityUrumqi 830000,China
    4Department of Medical Engineering and TechnologyXinjiang Medical UniversityUrumqi 830000,China
  • Received:2024-11-25 Revised:2025-04-15 Online:2025-12-08 Published:2025-12-31
  • Contact: Wang Lei E-mail:wlei81@126.com
  • About author:Yipala·Yilihamu is currently working at the College of Modern Agriculture, Turpan Vocational and Technical College
  • Supported by:
    Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China(2022D01C287)

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and survival prognosis of invasive breast cancer patients with different menopausal status and molecular subtypes. Methods A total of 2 823 patients with invasive breast cancer who received treatment at the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019 were selected as the study subjects. Patients were divided into four grades according to the clinical classification standard of BMI: underweight (BMI<18.5 kg/m2n=57), normal weight (18.5 kg/m2≤BMI<24.0 kg/m2n=1 289), overweight (24.0 kg/m2≤BMI<28.0 kg/m2n=1 061), and obesity (BMI≥28.0 kg/m2n=461). Kaplan-Meier survival curve was drawn to compare the difference of the 5-year overall survival (OS) rates of breast cancer patients with different BMI, and the effect of BMI on the prognosis of breast cancer patients with different menopausal statuses and molecular subtypes was investigated by Cox proportional risk regression model. The dose-response relationship between BMI levels and the risk of all-cause death was further investigated using a RCS function. Results The 5-year OS rates of the invasive breast cancer patients with underweight, normal weight, overweight, obesity were 92.98%, 96.59%, 94.88%, 90.67%, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (χ2=22.11, P<0.001); the 5-year OS rate of patients with normal weight was better than that of obese patients, with a statistically significant difference (χ2=15.15, P<0.001). Univariate analysis showed that, obesity was a factor influencing OS of all patients (HR=2.63, 95%CI: 1.73-4.00, P<0.001), postmenopausal patients (HR=2.47, 95%CI: 1.52-4.02, P<0.001), Luminal B subtype patients (HR=3.02, 95%CI: 1.64-5.59, P<0.001), and Luminal B subtype postmenopausal invasive breast cancer patients (HR=2.65, 95%CI: 1.27-5.50, P=0.009). Multivariate analysis showed that, obesity was an independent factor influencing OS of all patients (HR=1.79, 95%CI: 1.17-2.76, P=0.008), postmenopausal patients (HR=1.98, 95%CI: 1.20-3.26, P=0.008), Luminal B subtype patients (HR=2.36, 95%CI: 1.27-4.42, P=0.007), and Luminal B subtype postmenopausal invasive breast cancer patients (HR=2.39, 95%CI: 1.12-5.11, P=0.024). When BMI was used as a continuous variable, it showed a U-shaped dose-response relationship with OS of all patients and postmenopausal patients, and the lowest risk points were 24.04, 24.43 kg/m2, respectively. Conclusions Compared with BMI normal weight, obesity significantly reduces the OS rates of all invasive breast cancer patients. Obesity is an independent influencing factor for the OS of all patients, postmenopausal patients, Luminal B subtype and Luminal B subtype postmenopausal invasive breast cancer patients. There is a U-shaped dose-response relationship between BMI and the OS of all patients and postmenopausal patients. When the BMI level of patients exceeds the lowest risk value, the risk of patient death increases with the rise of BMI levels.

Key words: Breast neoplasms, Body mass index, Prognosis, Root cause analysis