Body Composition Correlates With Tumor Metabolism in Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer

In a cross-sectional study of 166 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, higher adiposity and low muscle mass were correlated with increased tumor metabolic activity and adverse cardiometabolic markers. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), blood samples, tumor maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), tumor diameter, Ki67 expression, and molecular subtype were evaluated at diagnosis to examine the relationship between body composition and breast cancer phenotype. Subgroup comparisons were conducted according to muscle mass status, defining low muscle mass as a Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) index below 0.512, alongside overweight or obesity status defined by a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 kg/m2.

Correlation analyses adjusted for patient age, breast cancer molecular subtype, metastatic status, and tumor diameter showed that higher BMI, fat mass in kilograms, and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) correlated with increased levels of triglycerides, C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). In contrast, higher muscle mass was correlated with lower triglyceride concentrations. Furthermore, patients categorized with low muscle mass exhibited higher adiposity, elevated tumor SUVmax, higher blood glucose, alkaline phosphatase, triglycerides, CRP, and IL-6, alongside lower vitamin D levels when compared to patients with normal muscle mass.

When analyzing combined body composition categories, patients presenting with both low muscle mass and overweight or obesity demonstrated the highest VAT, areal bone mineral density, blood glucose, triglycerides, and IL-6. Across the evaluated cohort, tumor SUVmax was lowest among patients who presented with normal muscle mass and normal weight. These observations showed that patients with low muscle mass, particularly when combined with overweight or obesity, exhibited the most unfavorable cardiometabolic and tumor metabolic profiles at diagnosis.

Within the evaluated clinical context, body composition represents a key outcome influencing immune profile, disease progression, treatment efficacy, and survival in breast cancer. The study authors concluded that these cross-sectional findings highlight muscle mass and adiposity as essential factors for guiding prevention and treatment strategies beyond pharmacological approaches in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.

Subject of Research: Body composition, tumor metabolism, and cardiometabolic markers in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients

Article Title: Body composition at diagnosis: a key determinant of tumor metabolism and cardiometabolic health in breast cancer patients

Article References: Esteban-Simón, A., Marmol-Perez, A., González-Jiménez, A., Ruiz-Vozmediano, J., Soriano-Maldonado, A., Sanchez-Sanchez, R., & Jurado-Fasoli, L. (2026). Body composition at diagnosis: a key determinant of tumor metabolism and cardiometabolic health in breast cancer patients. Supportive Care in Cancer, 34(11), Article 1196. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-026-11415-1

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s00520-026-11415-1

Keywords: breast cancer, body composition, muscle mass, adiposity, tumor metabolism, SUVmax, cardiometabolic health, cross-sectional study, Body, composition, diagnosis, determinant