Brown adipose tissue activity in relation to weight gain during chemotherapy in breast cancer patients: a pilot study

Nutr Cancer. 2014;66(7):1092-6. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2014.948212. Epub 2014 Aug 26.

Abstract

Weight gain has been reported in early stage breast cancer patients during chemotherapy, but the involved mechanisms remain unclear. A chemotherapy-induced decrease of brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity may partly contribute to weight gain in these patients. A positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan was performed at baseline and after 1 course of docetaxel + trastuzumab treatment in 26 breast cancer women. Variation of the maximal standardized uptake value of BAT in the cervical and supraclavicular regions between the 2 measures was assessed according to weight changes. Overall, (18)F-FDG uptakes in BAT decreased by 11.3% after 1 course of chemotherapy (p = 0.03). No correlation was found between the baseline values of (18)F-FDG uptake and body mass index or age of patients, but as expected (18)F-FDG uptake was dependent on season period. Among the patients, 35% gained weight, 25% lost weight, and 40% remained stable. Women who gained weight during chemotherapy experienced a significant decrease of (18)F-FDG uptake in BAT (p = 0.005). Decreased activity of BAT was associated with body weight gain during chemotherapy. These original data suggest for the first time that BAT modulation by chemotherapy would be a potential contributor to body weight gain through blunted thermogenesis in breast cancer patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / drug effects*
  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / metabolism
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use
  • Body Mass Index
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Docetaxel
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / administration & dosage
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / pharmacokinetics
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Pilot Projects
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Taxoids / therapeutic use
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Trastuzumab
  • Weight Gain / drug effects*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Taxoids
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Docetaxel
  • Trastuzumab