Dietary patterns for patients of triple-negative breast cancer in women with dense breasts

Abstract

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is common subtype of breast cancer in women with dense breast, leading to poor prognosis. Diet is well known modifiable risk factor for breast cancer, but the association between the risk of TNBC and diet has not been studied. The present study was investigated the hypothesis that healthy dietary pattern was negatively associated with risk of TNBC in women with dense breast. Dietary intake was assessed using 24 hour recall shortly after total mastectomy or breast conserving surgery in women with dense breasts (density types 3 and 4). Patients of TNBC (n=38) and non-TNBC (n=178) were recruited. The risk of TNBC was negatively associated with healthy dietary pattern consuming seafood and vegetables, while positively associated with dietary pattern consuming grains, meats and eggs in women with dense breast. In addition, intake of animal fat, eggs and meats was positively, but intake of vegetable fat, nuts and vegetables was negatively associated with the risk of TNBC after adjusting for energy intake and BMI. Patients with TNBC had a significantly higher proportion of obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) or abdominal obesity (WC ≥ 85cm) as compared to those with non-TNBC. In conclusion, the present study was the first study showing negative association between risk of TNBC and healthy dietary pattern in women with dense breast, suggesting the importance of diet on the risk of TNBC.