Global BulletinAll NewsFDA Approval AlertWomen in Oncology
Around the PracticeBetween the LinesFace OffFrom All AnglesMeeting of the MindsOncViewPodcastsTraining AcademyTreatment Algorithms with the Oncology BrothersVideos
Conferences
All JournalsEditorial BoardFor AuthorsYear in Review
Frontline ForumSatellite Sessions
CME/CE
Awareness MonthNurse Practitioners/Physician's AssistantsPartnersSponsoredSponsored Media
Career CenterSubscribe
Adverse Effects
Brain Cancer
Breast CancerBreast CancerBreast Cancer
Gastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal Cancer
Genitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary Cancers
Gynecologic CancersGynecologic CancersGynecologic CancersGynecologic Cancers
Head & Neck Cancer
Hematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic Oncology
InfectionInfection
Leukemia
Lung CancerLung CancerLung Cancer
Lymphoma
Neuroendocrine Tumors
Oncology
Pediatric Cancers
Radiation Oncology
Sarcoma
Screening
Skin Cancer & Melanoma
Surgery
Thyroid Cancer
Spotlight -
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Surgery
Adverse Effects
Brain Cancer
Breast CancerBreast CancerBreast Cancer
Gastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal Cancer
Genitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary Cancers
Gynecologic CancersGynecologic CancersGynecologic CancersGynecologic Cancers
Head & Neck Cancer
Hematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic Oncology
InfectionInfection
Leukemia
Lung CancerLung CancerLung Cancer
Lymphoma
Neuroendocrine Tumors
Oncology
Pediatric Cancers
Radiation Oncology
Sarcoma
Screening
Skin Cancer & Melanoma
Surgery
Thyroid Cancer
    • Conferences
    • CME/CE
    • Career Center
    • Subscribe
Advertisement

Increased Body Mass Index Shows a Link to Breast Cancer

November 22, 2023
By Neil M. Iyengar, MD
Commentary
Video

Exercise and healthy lifestyles can lower the risk of cancer or the symptoms of cancer treatment despite having genetic dispositions, said Neil M. Iyengar, MD.

In an interview with CancerNetwork®, Neil M. Iyengar, associate professor of medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, spoke about the importance of exercise in mitigating adverse effects (AEs) related to cancer treatment. Iyengar highlighted his study, “Obesity promotes breast epithelium DNA damage in women carrying a germline mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2” to discuss the effects of body mass index as an established risk factor for breast cancer. Iyengar also discussed the relationship between exercise and genetic dispositions of cancer.

The study found that there was mechanistic evidence between body mass index and patients who developed breast cancer with a BRCA mutation.

Transcript:

Exercise is an important component of taking care of one's own well-being. We’re also learning that exercise may be helpful for mitigating AEs related to cancer therapy and symptoms related to cancer.1 There is a growing body of evidence that [shows that] exercise may also have some direct anti-cancer activity. There are several professional bodies, like the American Society of Clinical Oncology [ASCO], the American Cancer Society, and the American College of Sports Medicine, that recommend exercise as part of a cancer treatment plan. We have conducted several research studies, as well as many other groups, which have demonstrated that exercise is feasible during cancer treatment, including during chemotherapy. It can be helpful for general well-being but may also help to improve response to cancer therapies, and that's an ongoing area or area of research right now.

Whenever we publish our findings regarding lifestyle interventions in cancer, a very common question is: what about [patients] with a genetic predisposition, like a breast cancer gene [BRCA] mutation? Does it matter if they’re exercising, eating well, or doing other lifestyle or environmental-related [activities] when they have a genetic predisposition to developing certain types of cancer? This was the question that came from a lot of patients. That stimulated us to conduct this study, in collaboration with Kristy A. Brown’s lab [from Weill Cornell Medicine], to try and understand: do we see the same types of obesity-related inflammation and changes within the breast microenvironment that we do in [patients] who don’t have a genetic predisposition?2 We found that levels of DNA damage in the breast epithelium are increased in association with obesity, in association with insulin resistance independent of obesity in women who carry germline BRCA1/2 mutations. This suggests that these lifestyle components can further increase the risk or penetrance of BRCA-related cancers.

References

  1. Iyengar NM. Inclusion of exercise in cancer treatment planning. JACC CardioOncol. 2022;4(4):504-506. doi:10.1016/j.jaccao.2022.10.002
  2. Bhardwaj P, Iyengar NM, Zahid H, et al. Obesity promotes breast epithelium DNA damage in women carrying a germline mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2. Sci Transl Med. 2023;15(684):eade1857. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.ade1857
Recent Videos
Leading experts in the breast cancer field highlight the use of CDK4/6 inhibitors, antibody-drug conjugates, and other treatment modalities.
Patients with node-negative disease who are older and have comorbidities may not be suitable to receive CDK4/6 inhibitors.
An observed carryover effect with CDK4/6 inhibitors may reduce the risk of recurrence years after a patient stops treatment.
Breast oncologist Jade E. Jones, MD, says she tries to send patients with BRCA-mutant HR-positive TNBC to clinical trials that use PARP inhibitors.
Related Content
Advertisement

Data from the phase 3 DESTINY-Breast09 trial presented at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting formed the basis of the supplemental NDA.

Japan’s MHLW Receives sNDA For T-DXd Combo in Frontline HER2+ Breast Cancer

Roman Fabbricatore
October 8th 2025
Article

Data from the phase 3 DESTINY-Breast09 trial presented at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting formed the basis of the supplemental NDA.


Upfront risk stratification for additional cardiovascular testing may help mitigate cardiovascular toxicities in breast cancer treatment.

Cardiovascular Considerations in Breast Cancer Treatment and Survivorship

Joseph S. Wallins, MD, MPH
September 8th 2025
Podcast

Up-front risk stratification for additional cardiovascular testing may help mitigate cardiovascular toxicities in breast cancer treatment.


Cryoablation, when combined with adjuvant endocrine therapy, may offer a minimally invasive outpatient strategy in older patients with breast cancer.

Cryoablation Regimen Receives FDA Marketing Authorization for Breast Cancer

Roman Fabbricatore
October 7th 2025
Article

Cryoablation, when combined with adjuvant endocrine therapy, may offer a minimally invasive outpatient strategy in older patients with breast cancer.


Leading experts in the breast cancer field highlight the use of CDK4/6 inhibitors, antibody-drug conjugates, and other treatment modalities.

Advancements and Evolving Strategies in Breast Cancer Treatment at IBC East

Heather McArthur, MD, MPH;Erika P. Hamilton, MD;Hope S. Rugo, MD;Paolo Tarantino, MD, PhD
July 21st 2025
Podcast

Leading experts in the breast cancer field highlight the use of CDK4/6 inhibitors, antibody-drug conjugates, and other treatment modalities.


The decision is based on phase 3 DESTINY-Breast11 trial data, in which the investigational regimen displayed improved pCR vs SOC in this breast population.

Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Regimen Accepted for Review in HER2+ Breast Cancer

Roman Fabbricatore
October 2nd 2025
Article

The decision is based on phase 3 DESTINY-Breast11 trial data, in which the investigational regimen displayed improved pCR vs SOC in this breast cancer population.


ETX-636’s selectivity may reduce the risk for hyperglycemia and other wildtype PI3Kα-related AEs vs other non-mutant selective PI3Kα inhibitors.

FDA Grants Fast Track Designation to Novel PIK3α Inhibitor in Breast Cancer

Tim Cortese
October 2nd 2025
Article

Combination therapy of ETX-636 plus fulvestrant is being administered to patients with HR–positive, HER2-negative breast cancer in a phase 1/2 trial.

Related Content
Advertisement

Data from the phase 3 DESTINY-Breast09 trial presented at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting formed the basis of the supplemental NDA.

Japan’s MHLW Receives sNDA For T-DXd Combo in Frontline HER2+ Breast Cancer

Roman Fabbricatore
October 8th 2025
Article

Data from the phase 3 DESTINY-Breast09 trial presented at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting formed the basis of the supplemental NDA.


Upfront risk stratification for additional cardiovascular testing may help mitigate cardiovascular toxicities in breast cancer treatment.

Cardiovascular Considerations in Breast Cancer Treatment and Survivorship

Joseph S. Wallins, MD, MPH
September 8th 2025
Podcast

Up-front risk stratification for additional cardiovascular testing may help mitigate cardiovascular toxicities in breast cancer treatment.


Cryoablation, when combined with adjuvant endocrine therapy, may offer a minimally invasive outpatient strategy in older patients with breast cancer.

Cryoablation Regimen Receives FDA Marketing Authorization for Breast Cancer

Roman Fabbricatore
October 7th 2025
Article

Cryoablation, when combined with adjuvant endocrine therapy, may offer a minimally invasive outpatient strategy in older patients with breast cancer.


Leading experts in the breast cancer field highlight the use of CDK4/6 inhibitors, antibody-drug conjugates, and other treatment modalities.

Advancements and Evolving Strategies in Breast Cancer Treatment at IBC East

Heather McArthur, MD, MPH;Erika P. Hamilton, MD;Hope S. Rugo, MD;Paolo Tarantino, MD, PhD
July 21st 2025
Podcast

Leading experts in the breast cancer field highlight the use of CDK4/6 inhibitors, antibody-drug conjugates, and other treatment modalities.


The decision is based on phase 3 DESTINY-Breast11 trial data, in which the investigational regimen displayed improved pCR vs SOC in this breast population.

Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Regimen Accepted for Review in HER2+ Breast Cancer

Roman Fabbricatore
October 2nd 2025
Article

The decision is based on phase 3 DESTINY-Breast11 trial data, in which the investigational regimen displayed improved pCR vs SOC in this breast cancer population.


ETX-636’s selectivity may reduce the risk for hyperglycemia and other wildtype PI3Kα-related AEs vs other non-mutant selective PI3Kα inhibitors.

FDA Grants Fast Track Designation to Novel PIK3α Inhibitor in Breast Cancer

Tim Cortese
October 2nd 2025
Article

Combination therapy of ETX-636 plus fulvestrant is being administered to patients with HR–positive, HER2-negative breast cancer in a phase 1/2 trial.

Advertisement
About
Advertise
CureToday.com
OncLive.com
OncNursingNews.com
TargetedOnc.com
Editorial
Contact
Terms and Conditions
Privacy
Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Contact Info

2 Commerce Drive
Cranbury, NJ 08512

609-716-7777

© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.