BACKGROUND: Patients with breast cancer sometimes present with increased liver enzymes during follow-up period that may be consistent with hepatic steatosis. This effect known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease may be associated with the malignancy itself, drugs or some other well-known risk factors that may induce steatosis. We studied the influences of primary disease and treatment on steatosis in patients with breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There were four groups of patients in our study. Group 1: 40 newly diagnosed, previously untreated breast cancer; Group 2: 45 cases of breast cancer treated with systemic therapy; Group 3: 40 cases of ovarian cancer; Group 4: 40 healthy women. Hepatic steatosis was evaluated by sonography by two radiologist, independently. We also evaluated major risk factors, biochemical findings, and influences of treatment on hepatic steatosis. RESULTS: We detected steatosis in 63%, 72%, 77%, and 48% of patients in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference only between groups 3 and 4 (P = 0.045). However, grade 2 and 3 steatosis were more frequent in breast cancer patients (group 1 and 2), compared with mild steatosis in ovarian cancer patients and healthy women. Although a good correlation was found between tamoxifen use and chemotherapy on development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, no association of hepatic steatosis with transaminase levels was found, which might be of help for earlier detection of steatosis. AST/ALT ratio was found to have no impact on the rate of hepatic steatosis, contrary to the literature. CONCLUSION: Hepatic steatosis, excluding patients with grade 1 steatosis, which may be a normal variant, were more readily detected in patients with breast cancer. This effect was aggravated by use of tamoxifen, but not the chemotherapy. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with breast cancer may be associated with the primary tumor itself or some well-known risk factors such as obesity, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus, which needs to be explored.
BACKGROUND:Patients with breast cancer sometimes present with increased liver enzymes during follow-up period that may be consistent with hepatic steatosis. This effect known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease may be associated with the malignancy itself, drugs or some other well-known risk factors that may induce steatosis. We studied the influences of primary disease and treatment on steatosis in patients with breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There were four groups of patients in our study. Group 1: 40 newly diagnosed, previously untreated breast cancer; Group 2: 45 cases of breast cancer treated with systemic therapy; Group 3: 40 cases of ovarian cancer; Group 4: 40 healthy women. Hepatic steatosis was evaluated by sonography by two radiologist, independently. We also evaluated major risk factors, biochemical findings, and influences of treatment on hepatic steatosis. RESULTS: We detected steatosis in 63%, 72%, 77%, and 48% of patients in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference only between groups 3 and 4 (P = 0.045). However, grade 2 and 3 steatosis were more frequent in breast cancerpatients (group 1 and 2), compared with mild steatosis in ovarian cancerpatients and healthy women. Although a good correlation was found between tamoxifen use and chemotherapy on development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, no association of hepatic steatosis with transaminase levels was found, which might be of help for earlier detection of steatosis. AST/ALT ratio was found to have no impact on the rate of hepatic steatosis, contrary to the literature. CONCLUSION:Hepatic steatosis, excluding patients with grade 1 steatosis, which may be a normal variant, were more readily detected in patients with breast cancer. This effect was aggravated by use of tamoxifen, but not the chemotherapy. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with breast cancer may be associated with the primary tumor itself or some well-known risk factors such as obesity, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus, which needs to be explored.
Authors: Y Murata; Y Ogawa; T Saibara; A Nishioka; Y Fujiwara; M Fukumoto; T Inomata; H Enzan; S Onishi; S Yoshida Journal: Oncol Rep Date: 2000 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 3.906
Authors: Young-Sun Lee; Ha Seok Lee; Sung Won Chang; Chan Uk Lee; Jung Sun Kim; Young Kul Jung; Ji Hoon Kim; Yeon Seok Seo; Hyung Joon Yim; Chang Hee Lee; Sang Uk Woo; Jae Hong Seo; Jong Eun Yeon; Soon Ho Um; Kwan Soo Byun Journal: Medicine (Baltimore) Date: 2019-09 Impact factor: 1.817
Authors: Yongjia Li; Xinming Su; Nidhi Rohatgi; Yan Zhang; Jonathan R Brestoff; Kooresh I Shoghi; Yalin Xu; Clay F Semenkovich; Charles A Harris; Lindsay L Peterson; Katherine N Weilbaecher; Steven L Teitelbaum; Wei Zou Journal: JCI Insight Date: 2020-09-03