ASCO23: an over-the-phone weight loss coach for breast cancer patients
Data from The Breast Cancer Weight Loss (BWEL) trial has demonstrated that telephone-based weight loss coaching increases weight loss in patients with Stage II–III HER2-negative breast cancer. This is the first step toward researcher’s longer-term assessment of whether weight loss can have a meaningful impact on prognosis.
It is well understood by clinicians that being overweight increases your risk of breast cancer and subsequent disease recurrence. However, it is not yet established whether weight loss can improve outcomes for breast cancer patients.
The Breast Cancer Weight Loss (BWEL) trial, set to be presented at ASCO (2−6 June, IL, USA), has been designed to determine whether a weight loss intervention can reduce breast cancer mortality and risk of recurrence.
As part of this trial, researchers focussed on the impact of telephone-based weight loss coaching on the weight of patients. A total of 3181 people with Stage II–III HER2-negative breast cancer, from over 600 sites across the US and Canada, were included in the study. Overall, 1600 patients of varying races, ethnicities and ages were included in the weight loss intervention group.
To qualify for this study, patients had to be diagnosed within the last 14 months, they had to have a BMI of at least 27, and must have completed all chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Patients’ height and weight were measured at baseline and after 1 year.
Across all patient groups, patients in the intervention arm lost significantly more weight. Patients that received telephone–based weight loss coaching, lost on average 4.8% of body weight after one year, whereas the control group gained an average of 0.9%.
Researchers have determined that this cost-effective coaching method is effective for weight loss, so the next step will be to assess whether cancer recurrence and mortality is reduced in the intervention group.
Speaking on this, lead co-author of the study Jennifer A Ligibel, from the the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (MA, USA) stated: “The next step will be to determine whether this weight loss translates into lower rates of cancer recurrence and mortality. If our trial is successful in improving cancer outcomes, it will have far-reaching implications, demonstrating that weight loss should be incorporated into the standard of care for survivors of breast cancer,”
