The influence of body mass index on the tolerability and effectiveness of full-weight-based paclitaxel chemotherapy in women with early-stage breast cancer

Purpose: To investigate the influence of body mass index (BMI) on the tolerability and effectiveness of full-weight-based paclitaxel chemotherapy in early breast cancer patients.

Methods: Early-stage breast cancer patients who received (neo)adjuvant weekly paclitaxel 80 mg/m² chemotherapy were included in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into three groups based on their BMI: lean, overweight, and obese. Logistic regression was used to assess for association between BMI with administered relative dose intensity (RDI) < 85%. The occurrence of treatment modifications and the pathological response on neoadjuvant chemotherapy were compared between BMI categories.

Results: Four hundred (400) patients were included in this study; 200 (50%) lean, 125 (31%) overweight, and 75 (19%) obese patients. The adjusted odds ratio to receive RDI < 85% for BMI was 1.02 (p value, .263). Treatment modifications occurred in 115 (58%), 82 (66%), and 52 (69%) patients in the respective BMI categories (p value = .132). Peripheral neuropathy was observed in 79 (40%), 58 (46%), and 41 (55%) patients in the lean, overweight, and obese group (p value = .069), whereas hematologic toxicity was observed in 31 (16%), 10 (8%), and 4 (5%) patients (p value = .025). Pathological complete response was observed in 22 (17%), 11 (14%), and 6 (13%) patients in the respective BMI categories (p value = .799).

Conclusion: BMI did not significantly influence the tolerability and effectiveness of full-weight-based paclitaxel chemotherapy. Therefore, the results of this study align with current guideline recommendations of using full-weight-based paclitaxel chemotherapy in obese patients.