Impact of central obesity on prognostic outcome of triple negative breast cancer in Chinese women

Purpose To evaluate the prognostic effect of central obesity on triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Methods 206 TNBC patients treated from June 2006 to June 2015 were enrolled retrospectively. Body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m 2 was the standard of obesity and waist circumference ≥80 cm was the standard of central obesity. Patient and tumor characteristics were compared between obesity categories. Survival differences between obesity categories were assessed with log-rank test in the univariate analysis and prognostic factors were then investigated by Cox regression analysis. Results 81 cases were with obesity (39.3 %). 71 cases were with central obesity (34.5 %). Patients with obesity or central obesity tended to be older (P = 0.022 for obesity; P = 0.013 for central obesity) and to have larger tumor size (P = 0.027 for obesity; P = 0.027 for central obesity). By Cox regression analysis, central obesity (DFS: HR 1.759; 95 % CI 1.009–3.065; P = 0.046. OS: HR 2.297; 95 % CI 1.184–4.456; P = 0.014) was identified as an independent prognostic factor. For central obesity with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m 2 , the prognostic effect was more apparent (DFS: HR 1.845; 95 % CI 1.059–3.212; P = 0.031. OS: HR 2.377; 95 % CI 1.230–4.593; P = 0.010). Conclusion Central obesity, especially with high BMI, was an independent prognostic factor for TNBC.