Body Composition In Breast Cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A cohort study to investigate body composition in women with breast cancer
IRAS ID
112547
Contact name
Ramsey I Cutress
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital Southampton Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
7 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Breast cancer remains the commonest cancer in women worldwide. Obesity is associated with an increased risk of post-menopausal breast cancer and poorer prognosis in both pre- and post-menopausal women. With the obesity rate in British women predicted to increase to 43% by 2030, there is a need to investigate the role of this risk factor in breast cancer. However, it is recognised that body mass index (BMI), calculated from height and weight, is a simplistic way of measuring body habitus. To date, no techniques in routine clinical use give any valuable measure of a patient’s true muscle mass or body fat (body composition).
This study will assess the use of a novel method to provide valid and clinically acceptable measures of body composition in women receiving treatment for breast cancer. Bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) provides detailed information on body composition from a brief non-invasive procedure. The SECA BIS analyser has been extensively validated in non-cancer patients. We will validate this technology against a traditional method of body composition measurement (deuterium water dilution) in a group of early breast cancer patients. BIS measurements of body composition in women presenting with and without breast cancer will be compared to identify potential factors predictive of risk or prognosis. Changes in body composition will be monitored whilst patients progress through different treatments.
Questionnaire information on lifestyle will allow detailed characterisation of the study cohort. Blood and surplus tissue specimens will be stored for future biochemical analyses. All study patients will receive conventional treatment for primary breast cancer.
This pilot study will establish recruitment feasibility and provide data for power calculations ahead of a future definitive study investigating body composition and clinical outcome in breast cancer. This project will also establish a first-class biological resource for future research projects.REC name
HSC REC A
REC reference
16/NI/0084
Date of REC Opinion
25 May 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion