Abstract
To examine the relationship between body weight and vascular invasion (VI) around tumours in post-menopausal women with operable breast cancer, a retrospective study was conducted of 393 patients treated in a breast unit between 1987 and 1991. Weight was measured at the time of diagnosis. Vascular invasion was recorded as being present or absent. Vascular invasion was seen in slightly more of the 50 perimenopausal patients than in the 343 post-menopausal women (44% vs 36%). In the tumour specimens from post-menopausal patients weighing <50 kg, VI was observed in 11% compared with 45% of those weighing more than 80 kg (P= 0.02). Furthermore, the 5-year survival of those with VI was 74% compared with 91% for those without (P < 0.0001). Menopausal status and body weight may influence survival in patients with breast cancer, possibly as a result of the presence of unopposed circulating oestrogens at the time of surgery. Oestrogens may alter cohesiveness of breast cancer cells and modulate secretion of proteases, thereby influencing invasive potential. Excision of tumours in such an environment may have a deleterious impact on survival.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 24 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $10.79 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Badwe, R., Fentiman, I., Millis, R. et al. Body weight and vascular invasion in post-menopausal women with breast cancer. Br J Cancer 75, 910–913 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1997.160
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1997.160
This article is cited by
-
The Obesity-Inflammation-Eicosanoid Axis in Breast Cancer
Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia (2013)
-
Timing of surgery during the menstrual cycle and prognosis of breast cancer
Journal of Biosciences (2000)