Clinical Edge Journal Scan

Key clinical point: Stanozolol (STZ) monotherapy could be considered an alternative treatment in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) without del(5q) after the failure of epoetin alfa.

Major finding: Hematologic improvement-erythroid response (HI-E) and transfusion independence were achieved in 48.2% and 43.2% of patients, respectively. The estimated 5-year overall survival was higher in HI-E responders vs. nonresponders (88.6% vs. 33.8%). Most of the adverse events were manageable.

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective analysis of 56 patients with lower-risk MDS without del(5q) exclusively treated with STZ after failure of epoetin alfa as first-line treatment.

Disclosures: No source of funding was declared. The authors declared no competing interests.

Source: Qu WY et al. Ann Hematol. 2021 Apr 10. doi: 10.1007/s00277-021-04508-w. 

Key clinical point: Stanozolol (STZ) monotherapy could be considered an alternative treatment in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) without del(5q) after the failure of epoetin alfa.

Major finding: Hematologic improvement-erythroid response (HI-E) and transfusion independence were achieved in 48.2% and 43.2% of patients, respectively. The estimated 5-year overall survival was higher in HI-E responders vs. nonresponders (88.6% vs. 33.8%). Most of the adverse events were manageable.

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective analysis of 56 patients with lower-risk MDS without del(5q) exclusively treated with STZ after failure of epoetin alfa as first-line treatment.

Disclosures: No source of funding was declared. The authors declared no competing interests.

Source: Qu WY et al. Ann Hematol. 2021 Apr 10. doi: 10.1007/s00277-021-04508-w. 

Key clinical point: Stanozolol (STZ) monotherapy could be considered an alternative treatment in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) without del(5q) after the failure of epoetin alfa.

Major finding: Hematologic improvement-erythroid response (HI-E) and transfusion independence were achieved in 48.2% and 43.2% of patients, respectively. The estimated 5-year overall survival was higher in HI-E responders vs. nonresponders (88.6% vs. 33.8%). Most of the adverse events were manageable.

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective analysis of 56 patients with lower-risk MDS without del(5q) exclusively treated with STZ after failure of epoetin alfa as first-line treatment.

Disclosures: No source of funding was declared. The authors declared no competing interests.

Source: Qu WY et al. Ann Hematol. 2021 Apr 10. doi: 10.1007/s00277-021-04508-w. 

Key clinical point: Azacytidine-treated patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are at significant risk for invasive fungal infection (IFI) with a corresponding higher risk for mortality, warranting mold-spectrum prophylaxis in these patients.

Major finding: Overall, 7.7% of patients developed IFI at a rate of 10.9% in patients who did not receive fungal prophylaxis. IFI was associated with a significantly higher risk for death (hazard ratio, 8.37; P less than .0001).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective cohort study of 117 patients receiving 5-azacytidine for MDS and low blast count acute myeloid leukemia.

Disclosures: The study was funded by a Monash Haematology research grant. B Rogers and J Shortt declared being on advisory boards and receiving research grants, speaker, and consultation fees from various sources.

Source: Tey A et al. Eur J Haematol. 2021 Apr 7. doi: 10.1111/ejh.13631

Key clinical point: Azacytidine-treated patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are at significant risk for invasive fungal infection (IFI) with a corresponding higher risk for mortality, warranting mold-spectrum prophylaxis in these patients.

Major finding: Overall, 7.7% of patients developed IFI at a rate of 10.9% in patients who did not receive fungal prophylaxis. IFI was associated with a significantly higher risk for death (hazard ratio, 8.37; P less than .0001).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective cohort study of 117 patients receiving 5-azacytidine for MDS and low blast count acute myeloid leukemia.

Disclosures: The study was funded by a Monash Haematology research grant. B Rogers and J Shortt declared being on advisory boards and receiving research grants, speaker, and consultation fees from various sources.

Source: Tey A et al. Eur J Haematol. 2021 Apr 7. doi: 10.1111/ejh.13631

Key clinical point: Azacytidine-treated patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are at significant risk for invasive fungal infection (IFI) with a corresponding higher risk for mortality, warranting mold-spectrum prophylaxis in these patients.

Major finding: Overall, 7.7% of patients developed IFI at a rate of 10.9% in patients who did not receive fungal prophylaxis. IFI was associated with a significantly higher risk for death (hazard ratio, 8.37; P less than .0001).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective cohort study of 117 patients receiving 5-azacytidine for MDS and low blast count acute myeloid leukemia.

Disclosures: The study was funded by a Monash Haematology research grant. B Rogers and J Shortt declared being on advisory boards and receiving research grants, speaker, and consultation fees from various sources.

Source: Tey A et al. Eur J Haematol. 2021 Apr 7. doi: 10.1111/ejh.13631

Key clinical point: Low lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is associated with a favorable prognosis.

Major finding: LMR lesser than vs. greater than 5 was associated with a lower risk for leukemic transformation (median time not reached; P = .003) and better leukemia-free survival (median, 48 months vs. 21 months; P = .03).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study of 201 patients with a new diagnosis of MDS.

Disclosures: No source of funding was declared. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.

Source: Pénichoux J et al. Leuk Lymphoma. 2021 Apr 2. doi: 10.1080/10428194.2021.1907381

Key clinical point: Low lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is associated with a favorable prognosis.

Major finding: LMR lesser than vs. greater than 5 was associated with a lower risk for leukemic transformation (median time not reached; P = .003) and better leukemia-free survival (median, 48 months vs. 21 months; P = .03).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study of 201 patients with a new diagnosis of MDS.

Disclosures: No source of funding was declared. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.

Source: Pénichoux J et al. Leuk Lymphoma. 2021 Apr 2. doi: 10.1080/10428194.2021.1907381

Key clinical point: Low lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is associated with a favorable prognosis.

Major finding: LMR lesser than vs. greater than 5 was associated with a lower risk for leukemic transformation (median time not reached; P = .003) and better leukemia-free survival (median, 48 months vs. 21 months; P = .03).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study of 201 patients with a new diagnosis of MDS.

Disclosures: No source of funding was declared. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.

Source: Pénichoux J et al. Leuk Lymphoma. 2021 Apr 2. doi: 10.1080/10428194.2021.1907381

Key clinical point: Presence of autoimmune manifestations (AIMs) predicts poor prognosis irrespective of disease severity in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Major finding: MDS-associated AIMs were identified in 20% of patients, with overall survival being shorter in patients with vs. without AIMs (P log-rank = .03). The prognosis was poor and comparable among patients with low-risk MDS and associated AIMs vs. those with high-risk MDS without AIMs (P log-rank = .9).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study of 61 patients with a new diagnosis of MDS.

Disclosures: This research was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(C). The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Arinobu Y et al. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Apr 2. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000025406

Key clinical point: Presence of autoimmune manifestations (AIMs) predicts poor prognosis irrespective of disease severity in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Major finding: MDS-associated AIMs were identified in 20% of patients, with overall survival being shorter in patients with vs. without AIMs (P log-rank = .03). The prognosis was poor and comparable among patients with low-risk MDS and associated AIMs vs. those with high-risk MDS without AIMs (P log-rank = .9).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study of 61 patients with a new diagnosis of MDS.

Disclosures: This research was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(C). The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Arinobu Y et al. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Apr 2. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000025406

Key clinical point: Presence of autoimmune manifestations (AIMs) predicts poor prognosis irrespective of disease severity in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Major finding: MDS-associated AIMs were identified in 20% of patients, with overall survival being shorter in patients with vs. without AIMs (P log-rank = .03). The prognosis was poor and comparable among patients with low-risk MDS and associated AIMs vs. those with high-risk MDS without AIMs (P log-rank = .9).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study of 61 patients with a new diagnosis of MDS.

Disclosures: This research was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(C). The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Arinobu Y et al. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Apr 2. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000025406

Key clinical point: Azacitidine treatment for hematological relapse of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with poor outcomes; however, patients receiving subsequent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) may benefit from it.

Major finding: With a median follow-up of 4.7 and 13.6 months, the median overall survival (OS) was 5.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.4-13) months and 9.5 (95% CI, 5.6-NA) months in patients receiving azacitidine as the first-line treatment of relapse and those receiving it after other treatment of relapse, respectively. In addition, the median OS was 11.6 (95% CI, 5.5-NA) months and not reached in patients who proceeded to salvage allo-HSCT in both groups, respectively.

Study details: This was a retrospective multicenter study of 31 patients with MDS or AML who had a hematological relapse after allo-HSCT and were treated with azacitidine.

Disclosures: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Drozd-Sokołowska J et al. Eur J Haematol. 2021 Mar 25. doi: 10.1111/ejh.13628.

Key clinical point: Azacitidine treatment for hematological relapse of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with poor outcomes; however, patients receiving subsequent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) may benefit from it.

Major finding: With a median follow-up of 4.7 and 13.6 months, the median overall survival (OS) was 5.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.4-13) months and 9.5 (95% CI, 5.6-NA) months in patients receiving azacitidine as the first-line treatment of relapse and those receiving it after other treatment of relapse, respectively. In addition, the median OS was 11.6 (95% CI, 5.5-NA) months and not reached in patients who proceeded to salvage allo-HSCT in both groups, respectively.

Study details: This was a retrospective multicenter study of 31 patients with MDS or AML who had a hematological relapse after allo-HSCT and were treated with azacitidine.

Disclosures: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Drozd-Sokołowska J et al. Eur J Haematol. 2021 Mar 25. doi: 10.1111/ejh.13628.

Key clinical point: Azacitidine treatment for hematological relapse of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with poor outcomes; however, patients receiving subsequent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) may benefit from it.

Major finding: With a median follow-up of 4.7 and 13.6 months, the median overall survival (OS) was 5.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.4-13) months and 9.5 (95% CI, 5.6-NA) months in patients receiving azacitidine as the first-line treatment of relapse and those receiving it after other treatment of relapse, respectively. In addition, the median OS was 11.6 (95% CI, 5.5-NA) months and not reached in patients who proceeded to salvage allo-HSCT in both groups, respectively.

Study details: This was a retrospective multicenter study of 31 patients with MDS or AML who had a hematological relapse after allo-HSCT and were treated with azacitidine.

Disclosures: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Drozd-Sokołowska J et al. Eur J Haematol. 2021 Mar 25. doi: 10.1111/ejh.13628.

Key clinical point: The addition of palbociclib to estrogen therapy for 1 year does not improve invasive disease-free survival (DFS) in high-risk patients with hormone-receptor–positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-negative early breast cancer who had residual invasive disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Major finding: Palbociclib did not improve invasive DFS vs. placebo (stratified hazard ratio, 0.93; P = .525) after a median follow-up of 42.8 months. Incidences of grade 3-4 neutropenia and leukopenia were significantly higher in the palbociclib group. Eight fatal serious adverse events were reported.

Study details: A phase 3, double-blind, randomized PENELOPE-B study evaluated 1,250 high-risk patients with HR+, HER-negative early breast cancer who have residual invasive disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients received estrogen therapy with either palbociclib or placebo.

Disclosures: The study was supported by Pfizer. The authors declared receiving consulting, honoraria, travel/accomodation expenses and research funding outside the study work. Some of the authors declared being employee of and/or stocks/ownership interests of various sources including Pfizer.

Source: Loibl S et al. J Clin Oncol. 2021 Apr 1. doi: 10.1200/JCO.20.03639.

Key clinical point: The addition of palbociclib to estrogen therapy for 1 year does not improve invasive disease-free survival (DFS) in high-risk patients with hormone-receptor–positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-negative early breast cancer who had residual invasive disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Major finding: Palbociclib did not improve invasive DFS vs. placebo (stratified hazard ratio, 0.93; P = .525) after a median follow-up of 42.8 months. Incidences of grade 3-4 neutropenia and leukopenia were significantly higher in the palbociclib group. Eight fatal serious adverse events were reported.

Study details: A phase 3, double-blind, randomized PENELOPE-B study evaluated 1,250 high-risk patients with HR+, HER-negative early breast cancer who have residual invasive disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients received estrogen therapy with either palbociclib or placebo.

Disclosures: The study was supported by Pfizer. The authors declared receiving consulting, honoraria, travel/accomodation expenses and research funding outside the study work. Some of the authors declared being employee of and/or stocks/ownership interests of various sources including Pfizer.

Source: Loibl S et al. J Clin Oncol. 2021 Apr 1. doi: 10.1200/JCO.20.03639.

Key clinical point: The addition of palbociclib to estrogen therapy for 1 year does not improve invasive disease-free survival (DFS) in high-risk patients with hormone-receptor–positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-negative early breast cancer who had residual invasive disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Major finding: Palbociclib did not improve invasive DFS vs. placebo (stratified hazard ratio, 0.93; P = .525) after a median follow-up of 42.8 months. Incidences of grade 3-4 neutropenia and leukopenia were significantly higher in the palbociclib group. Eight fatal serious adverse events were reported.

Study details: A phase 3, double-blind, randomized PENELOPE-B study evaluated 1,250 high-risk patients with HR+, HER-negative early breast cancer who have residual invasive disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients received estrogen therapy with either palbociclib or placebo.

Disclosures: The study was supported by Pfizer. The authors declared receiving consulting, honoraria, travel/accomodation expenses and research funding outside the study work. Some of the authors declared being employee of and/or stocks/ownership interests of various sources including Pfizer.

Source: Loibl S et al. J Clin Oncol. 2021 Apr 1. doi: 10.1200/JCO.20.03639.

Key clinical point: The hormone receptor (HR)-negative/ human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive subtype was associated with the highest axillary pathologic complete response (pCR) rate and luminal A subtype was associated with the lowest axillary pCR rate.

Major finding: The axillary pCR rates were 60% for HR-negative/HER2-positive, 59% for HER2-positive, 48% for triple-negative, 45% for HR-positive/HER2-positive, 35% for luminal B, 18% for HR-positive/HER2-negative, and 13% for luminal A breast cancer subtypes.

Study details: A meta-analysis of 33 studies including 57,531 patients with breast cancer who received neoadjuvant systemic therapy.

Disclosures: The study was supported by a grant from the Dutch Cancer Society and Alpe d’Huzes Foundation. The authors received grants and personal fees outside this work.

Source: Samiei S et al. JAMA Surg. 2021 Apr 21. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2021.0891.

Key clinical point: The hormone receptor (HR)-negative/ human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive subtype was associated with the highest axillary pathologic complete response (pCR) rate and luminal A subtype was associated with the lowest axillary pCR rate.

Major finding: The axillary pCR rates were 60% for HR-negative/HER2-positive, 59% for HER2-positive, 48% for triple-negative, 45% for HR-positive/HER2-positive, 35% for luminal B, 18% for HR-positive/HER2-negative, and 13% for luminal A breast cancer subtypes.

Study details: A meta-analysis of 33 studies including 57,531 patients with breast cancer who received neoadjuvant systemic therapy.

Disclosures: The study was supported by a grant from the Dutch Cancer Society and Alpe d’Huzes Foundation. The authors received grants and personal fees outside this work.

Source: Samiei S et al. JAMA Surg. 2021 Apr 21. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2021.0891.

Key clinical point: The hormone receptor (HR)-negative/ human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive subtype was associated with the highest axillary pathologic complete response (pCR) rate and luminal A subtype was associated with the lowest axillary pCR rate.

Major finding: The axillary pCR rates were 60% for HR-negative/HER2-positive, 59% for HER2-positive, 48% for triple-negative, 45% for HR-positive/HER2-positive, 35% for luminal B, 18% for HR-positive/HER2-negative, and 13% for luminal A breast cancer subtypes.

Study details: A meta-analysis of 33 studies including 57,531 patients with breast cancer who received neoadjuvant systemic therapy.

Disclosures: The study was supported by a grant from the Dutch Cancer Society and Alpe d’Huzes Foundation. The authors received grants and personal fees outside this work.

Source: Samiei S et al. JAMA Surg. 2021 Apr 21. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2021.0891.

Key clinical point: Scalp cooling therapy for chemotherapy-induced alopecia in patients with breast cancer is associated with 61% effectiveness, according to a meta-analysis.

Major finding: Scalp cooling therapy showed an effectiveness of 61% against hair loss. The region-specific efficacy was 65% in Europe and 53% in Asia.

Study details: Meta-analysis of 27 studies (3 randomized controlled trials, 12 cross-sectional, and 12 cohort studies) with 2,202 participants.

Disclosures: The study funding source was not identified. The authors declared no conflict of interests.

Source: Wang S et al. Support Care Cancer. 2021 Apr 13. doi: 10.1007/s00520-021-06188-8.

Key clinical point: Scalp cooling therapy for chemotherapy-induced alopecia in patients with breast cancer is associated with 61% effectiveness, according to a meta-analysis.

Major finding: Scalp cooling therapy showed an effectiveness of 61% against hair loss. The region-specific efficacy was 65% in Europe and 53% in Asia.

Study details: Meta-analysis of 27 studies (3 randomized controlled trials, 12 cross-sectional, and 12 cohort studies) with 2,202 participants.

Disclosures: The study funding source was not identified. The authors declared no conflict of interests.

Source: Wang S et al. Support Care Cancer. 2021 Apr 13. doi: 10.1007/s00520-021-06188-8.

Key clinical point: Scalp cooling therapy for chemotherapy-induced alopecia in patients with breast cancer is associated with 61% effectiveness, according to a meta-analysis.

Major finding: Scalp cooling therapy showed an effectiveness of 61% against hair loss. The region-specific efficacy was 65% in Europe and 53% in Asia.

Study details: Meta-analysis of 27 studies (3 randomized controlled trials, 12 cross-sectional, and 12 cohort studies) with 2,202 participants.

Disclosures: The study funding source was not identified. The authors declared no conflict of interests.

Source: Wang S et al. Support Care Cancer. 2021 Apr 13. doi: 10.1007/s00520-021-06188-8.

Interestingly the authors propose possible causative mechanisms. They note that normal pancreatic secretion is regulated by neural and endocrine control mechanisms that require intact gastro-pancreatico-duodenal anatomy. Disruptions to this include “extensive pancreatic denervation because of lymph node dissection and truncal vagotomy, the asynchronous release of pancreatic enzymes for food particles (pancreaticocibal-asynchrony) because of newly made reconstructions, and gastric reservoir and neural gastric stimulation losses.” They also include the possibility of effects of adjuvant therapies as well. 

While 64% of this patient population had some form of EPI, another study from this month’s selection by Sridhar et al out of Vellore, India tells a different story. In this cross-sectional study, they looked at symptomatic and biochemical evidence of EPI on pre and post questionnaires following gastric resection for adenocarcinoma. Of 27 patients that completed pre and post questionnaires, none of the patients on short-term follow-up (mean follow up of 3 months) had clinical symptoms of EPI following gastric resection. However, more than a third of the patients developed asymptomatic EPI after gastric resection, based on FE testing. The authors conclude that pancreatic supplementation might not be necessary following gastric resection, but perhaps their follow up window was much too short to draw such a conclusion. 

Interestingly the authors propose possible causative mechanisms. They note that normal pancreatic secretion is regulated by neural and endocrine control mechanisms that require intact gastro-pancreatico-duodenal anatomy. Disruptions to this include “extensive pancreatic denervation because of lymph node dissection and truncal vagotomy, the asynchronous release of pancreatic enzymes for food particles (pancreaticocibal-asynchrony) because of newly made reconstructions, and gastric reservoir and neural gastric stimulation losses.” They also include the possibility of effects of adjuvant therapies as well. 

While 64% of this patient population had some form of EPI, another study from this month’s selection by Sridhar et al out of Vellore, India tells a different story. In this cross-sectional study, they looked at symptomatic and biochemical evidence of EPI on pre and post questionnaires following gastric resection for adenocarcinoma. Of 27 patients that completed pre and post questionnaires, none of the patients on short-term follow-up (mean follow up of 3 months) had clinical symptoms of EPI following gastric resection. However, more than a third of the patients developed asymptomatic EPI after gastric resection, based on FE testing. The authors conclude that pancreatic supplementation might not be necessary following gastric resection, but perhaps their follow up window was much too short to draw such a conclusion. 

Interestingly the authors propose possible causative mechanisms. They note that normal pancreatic secretion is regulated by neural and endocrine control mechanisms that require intact gastro-pancreatico-duodenal anatomy. Disruptions to this include “extensive pancreatic denervation because of lymph node dissection and truncal vagotomy, the asynchronous release of pancreatic enzymes for food particles (pancreaticocibal-asynchrony) because of newly made reconstructions, and gastric reservoir and neural gastric stimulation losses.” They also include the possibility of effects of adjuvant therapies as well. 

While 64% of this patient population had some form of EPI, another study from this month’s selection by Sridhar et al out of Vellore, India tells a different story. In this cross-sectional study, they looked at symptomatic and biochemical evidence of EPI on pre and post questionnaires following gastric resection for adenocarcinoma. Of 27 patients that completed pre and post questionnaires, none of the patients on short-term follow-up (mean follow up of 3 months) had clinical symptoms of EPI following gastric resection. However, more than a third of the patients developed asymptomatic EPI after gastric resection, based on FE testing. The authors conclude that pancreatic supplementation might not be necessary following gastric resection, but perhaps their follow up window was much too short to draw such a conclusion. 

Key clinical point: Increasing body mass index (BMI) among survivors of early breast cancer is associated with a higher risk of developing a second primary cancer.

Major finding: At a mean follow-up of 88.0 months, 12.7% of patients developed a second primary cancer. For every 5 kg/m² increase in the BMI, the risk for any second cancer diagnosis increased by 7% and for obesity-related cancers by 13%. The risk for a second breast cancer and second estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer increased by 11% and 15%, respectively, for every 5 kg/m² increase in the BMI.

Study details: A retrospective cohort study of 6,481 women with early-stage primary breast cancer, wherein 33.4% of patients were overweight, and 33.8% were obese.

Disclosures: This work was supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics of the US National Cancer Institute, and American Cancer Society. The authors disclosed no conflict of interests.

Source: Feigelson HS et al. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2021 Apr 5. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djab053.

Key clinical point: Increasing body mass index (BMI) among survivors of early breast cancer is associated with a higher risk of developing a second primary cancer.

Major finding: At a mean follow-up of 88.0 months, 12.7% of patients developed a second primary cancer. For every 5 kg/m² increase in the BMI, the risk for any second cancer diagnosis increased by 7% and for obesity-related cancers by 13%. The risk for a second breast cancer and second estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer increased by 11% and 15%, respectively, for every 5 kg/m² increase in the BMI.

Study details: A retrospective cohort study of 6,481 women with early-stage primary breast cancer, wherein 33.4% of patients were overweight, and 33.8% were obese.

Disclosures: This work was supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics of the US National Cancer Institute, and American Cancer Society. The authors disclosed no conflict of interests.

Source: Feigelson HS et al. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2021 Apr 5. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djab053.

Key clinical point: Increasing body mass index (BMI) among survivors of early breast cancer is associated with a higher risk of developing a second primary cancer.

Major finding: At a mean follow-up of 88.0 months, 12.7% of patients developed a second primary cancer. For every 5 kg/m² increase in the BMI, the risk for any second cancer diagnosis increased by 7% and for obesity-related cancers by 13%. The risk for a second breast cancer and second estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer increased by 11% and 15%, respectively, for every 5 kg/m² increase in the BMI.

Study details: A retrospective cohort study of 6,481 women with early-stage primary breast cancer, wherein 33.4% of patients were overweight, and 33.8% were obese.

Disclosures: This work was supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics of the US National Cancer Institute, and American Cancer Society. The authors disclosed no conflict of interests.

Source: Feigelson HS et al. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2021 Apr 5. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djab053.