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 crown-like 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 ¼ 0.046) and greater adipocyte diameter (P ¼ 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.