title: Weight change associated with third-generation adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies have shown that breast cancer treatment can cause an increase in weight. Weight gain during chemotherapy is usually significant and may be associated with poor survival. However, the role of third- generation chemotherapy regimens and weight gain is not well reviewed.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed the mean percentage weight change during the first year after breast cancer diagnosis in 246 patients at West Virginia University during September 2007 and October 2010. Kruskal-Wallis test and post hoc pairwise comparisons were used to assess the influence of age, histology, stage, ER/PR/HER2/neu status, menopausal status, and types of therapeutic modalities received on the percentage weight change. Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank test was used to evaluate recurrence-free survival (RFS). Local or distant recurrence and disease progression were events for RFS analysis and disease-free patients were censored at last follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean weight gain was 0.39% (SD, 0.40) of baseline body weight, 1 year after diagnosis of breast cancer. Premenopausal status was the only factor associated with significant weight gain (+1.67% vs -0.10% for postmenopausal patients; P = .02). Stages ≥ III was associated with significant weight loss (-1.64% for stages III, IV vs +0.85% for stages 0, I, II; P = .02) and a lower RFS at 3 years and 5 years (P < .0001). Higher baseline weight (> 90th percentile) did not have any significant impact on RFS (0.84 vs 0.91; P = .19). There was no significant change in weight relative to other factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study in patients receiving third-generation adjuvant chemotherapy regimens did not show any significant change in percentage weight with chemotherapy. Premenopausal status was the only significant factor associated with weight gain. As expected, stage III or higher disease was associated with significant weight loss and lower RFS.
authors: Division of Hematology and Oncology, Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; and Section of Hematology and Oncology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. lchaudhary@mcw.edu.
authors: Lubna N
authors: LN
authors: Chaudhary
authors: Department of Biostatistics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.
authors: Sijin
authors: S
authors: Wen
authors: Department of Biostatistics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Xiao
authors: Division of Physical Therapy and Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.
authors: Anne K
authors: AK
authors: Swisher
authors: Section of Hematology and Oncology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.
authors: Sobha
authors: S
authors: Kurian
authors: Section of Hematology and Oncology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; and Department of Solid Tumor Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors: Jame
authors: J
authors: Abraham