Obesity-associated breast inflammation among Hispanic/Latina breast cancer patients.

Breast white adipose tissue inflammation (BWATi) is associated with obesity and higher breast cancer (BC) risk among non-Hispanic white women. Obesity is prevalent in Hispanic/Latina BC patients, 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 BC patients who underwent mastectomy. BWATi was defined as the presence of crown-like structures of the breast (CLS-B), detected by CD68 immunohistochemistry in non-tumor breast tissue. BWATi severity was quantified as number of CLS-B/cm2. Adipocyte diameter was measured using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained breast tissue sections. Preoperative BMI (within 1 week prior to mastectomy) was categorized as normal (18.5 to <25.0 kg/m2), overweight (25.0 to <30.0 kg/m2), class I obesity (30.0 to <35.0 kg/m2), and class II-III obesity (35.0 kg/m2 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 for trend <0.01). Severe BWATi (>0.27 CLS-B/cm2) was associated with higher BMI (P for 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 BC patients, consistent with previously described associations in other populations.