Insulin resistance and inflammation in black women with and without breast cancer: Cause for concern

Abstract

Objective: After chemotherapy for breast cancer, Black women gain more weight and have an increased mortality rate compared with White women. Our study objective was to compare biomarkers associated with obesity in Black women with and without a history of breast cancer. Design: Case-control Setting: Academic/federal institution Participants: Black women with a history of breast cancer (cases) and age-matched controls. Methods: We compared insulin resistance, inflammation, and lipids in overweight and obese Black women with a history of breast cancer (n=19), age similar controls (n=25), and older controls (n=32). Groups did not differ on mean body mass index (BMI), which was 35.4 kg/m2, 36.0 kg/m2, and 33.0 kg/m2, respectively. Main Outcome Measures: Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR); inflammation (TNF-α, IL-1b, IL-6, IL-8, CRP); lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides). Results: Cases had 1.6 and 1.38 times higher HOMA-IR values compared with age similar and older controls, respectively (P≤.001 for both). TNF-α and IL-1b were significantly higher in cases compared with both control groups (P