Breast Cancer Characteristics after Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: A Matched Comparison to Patients with Severe Obesity.

BACKGROUND

Severe obesity increases breast cancer (BC) risk and progression. Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (MBS) modulates metabolic and hormonal pathways, potentially influencing cancer biology. This study evaluates BC patients after MBS. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of MBS on BC, focusing on disease-free survival (DFS), presentation, subtypes, and oncologic outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of a single-center database included patients undergoing BC surgery after MBS (2012-2020), matched (1:4) to patients with severe obesity undergoing BC surgery.

RESULTS

Among 696 patients, 29 (4%) had BC post-MBS. Sleeve gastrectomy was the most common procedure (48.2%). Mean age at BC surgery was 60.7 ± 10 years. BMI prior to BC surgery was lower in the MBS-group (32.4 vs. 38.3 kg/m, p < 0.0001). Disease-free survival (114 vs. 146 months, p = 0.75) and recurrence rates were similar. The MBS-group had lower luminal-A subtype rates (34.4% vs. 59.5%, p = 0.01) and higher luminal-B subtype rates (58.6% vs. 27.6%, p = 0.001). No patients in the MBS-group had ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (0% vs. 20%, p = 0.03). Other subtypes showed no differences.

CONCLUSION

MBS may influence BC pathogenesis, with lower DCIS and luminal-A rates. These findings suggest a potential reduction in overall BC incidence due to metabolic and hormonal changes after MBS. Oncologic outcomes remained comparable.