Association between lifestyle factors and completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Abstract

91 Background: Completion of chemotherapy has been associated with improved breast cancer outcomes. We evaluated whether lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and diet, may contribute to neoadjuvant chemotherapy completion in breast cancer. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of women treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for early stage (I-III) breast cancer. A medical record review recorded BMI, blood pressure, diabetes and hypertension medication, and chemotherapy completion. Completers received full doses of all prescribed chemotherapy, with or without cycle delays. We conducted a telephone survey about exercise and fruit/vegetable intake (>5 servings/day) during the year prior to cancer diagnosis. Exercisers completed at least 7.5 MET-hours/week (i.e., 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise). Multi-variable adjusted analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with chemotherapy completion. Results: Sixty-seven patients (45%) answered the survey. Chemotherapy completers were on average 11 years younger than non-completers (p<0.001), more likely premenopausal (p=0.02), and less likely on diabetes medication (p=0.05). Exercisers were more likely to complete chemotherapy than non-exercisers (p=0.002). After controlling for age, diastolic blood pressure, menopausal status, and diabetes medication, the adjusted odds ratio for exercise on chemotherapy completion was 4.1 (95% CI 1.1 – 15.3) (p=0.04). Conclusions: Women who reported exercising at recommended levels in the year prior to breast cancer diagnosis were more likely to complete neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens, suggesting a potentially important role for lifestyle factors in chemotherapy completion. Factors associated with chemotherapy completion [Table: see text]