Retrospective cohort study impact of obesity on early-onset breast cancer and specific molecular subtypes in Black and White women

Epidemiological data suggest an association of obesity with breast cancer; however, obesity’s contribution to early-onset breast cancer (diagnosed before age 45 years) and risk of diagnosis with specific molecular subtypes by race is uncertain. In a retrospective study at the University of Southern Alamaba (Mobile, AL) of 1085 patients with breast cancer, those with obesity and of Black race were diagnosed more often with breast cancer than their White counterparts. Furthermore, Black women with obesity exhibited a significantly higher risk of early-onset and diagnosis of luminal A and triple-negative breast cancer subtypes. The authors conclude that obesity is a significant predisposing health condition associated with observed disparities in age of breast cancer onset and is also a risk factor for diagnosis of luminal A and triple-negative breast cancer molecular subtypes.