Women with newly diagnosed breast cancer have higher bone mineral density: Study

Israel: Bone mineral density (BMD) might be considered a biomarker for breast cancer risk, suggests a recent study in the journal npj Breast Cancer. 

Results of the study showed that women diagnosed with breast cancer have higher BMD on dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan compared to women with similar characteristics but without breast cancer. 

After menopause, the incidences of both breast cancer and osteoporosis increase. Estrogen is critical for the maintenance of bone integrity; deficiency of which results in accelerated bone loss and decreased BMD, and a propensity for osteoporotic fractures. Given this, estrogen may have opposing effects on health i.e. increasing the risk of breast cancer and improving bone health by increasing BMD.

Considering the above, Merav Fraenkel, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel, and colleagues aimed to compare DEXA BMD between women newly diagnosed with breast cancer and matched controls without breast cancer in a prospective matched cohort study. 

For this purpose, the researchers prospectively enrolled women newly diagnosed with breast cancer treated between April 2012 and October 2017. They established a control group of women with negative mammography or breast ultrasound, matched 1:1 by age, body mass index, parity, and the use of hormone replacement therapy. Those with DXA BMD and lab assessments at enrollment were included.