Obesity-associated Breast Inflammation among Hispanic/Latina Breast Cancer Patients

Breast white adipose tissue inflammation (BWATi) is associated with obesity and higher breast cancer risk among non-Hispanic white women. Obesity is prevalent in Hispanic/Latina patients with breast cancer, and the occurrence of BWATi in this population is not well-characterized. The association between BWATi and body mass index (BMI) was evaluated in Hispanic/Latina patients with breast cancer who underwent mastectomy. BWATi was defined as the presence of crownlike structures of the breast (CLS-B), detected by CD68 IHC in nontumor breast tissue. BWATi severity was quantified as number of CLS-B/cm(2). Adipocyte diameter was measured using hematoxylin and eosin-stained breast tissue sections. Preoperative BMI (within 1 week prior to mastectomy) was categorized as normal (18.5-<25.0 kg/m(2)), overweight (25.0-<30.0 kg/m(2)), class I obesity (30.0-<35.0 kg/m(2)), and class II-III obesity (35.0 kg/m(2) or above). Patient charts were abstracted to record clinicopathologic features and liver function tests <90 days before mastectomy. The study included 91 women (mean age 69 years; range 36-96 years). Prevalence of BWATi increased with BMI (24% in normal weight, 34% in overweight, 57% in class I obesity, and 65% in class II-III obesity; P-trend <0.01). Severe BWATi (>0.27 CLS-B/cm(2)) was associated with higher BMI (P-trend = 0.046) and greater adipocyte diameter (P = 0.04). Adjusting for BMI, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and elevated alanine aminotransferase were associated with severe BWATi, and current smoking was associated with mild BWATi (all P < 0.05). BWATi was associated with higher BMI in Hispanic/Latina patients with breast cancer, consistent with previously described associations in other populations.