MR spectroscopy-detected change in marrow adiposity is strongly correlated to postmenopausal breast cancer risk

Abstract Purpose To determine whether marrow fat fraction (FF) is correlated with postmenopausal breast cancer risk and clinic-pathological characters of breast cancer. Methods Fifty-six newly diagnosed and histologically confirmed postmenopausal breast cancer and fifty-six healthy controls underwent serologic test and MR spectroscopy-based FF measurements. Data were analyzed by logistic multivariate regression models to determine the independent predictors of breast cancer risk and clinic-pathological characters of breast cancer. Results Breast cancer patients had higher FF than that of the controls. Marrow FF showed positive association with serum leptin levels ( r = 0.607, P < 0.001) in the cases, but no relationship was found in the controls. In the univariate analysis, both levels of leptin and marrow FF were significantly associated with breast cancer risk and clinic-pathological characters of breast cancer. In the multivariable model with adjustment for established breast cancer risk factors, serum leptin was a significant predictor of breast cancer risk (OR 1.746, 95%CI 1.226–2.556) and clinic-pathological characters of breast cancer including TNM, tumor size, lymph node status and histological grade (OR, 1.461–1.695); but when marrow FF was additionally added to the regression model, marrow FF but not leptin levels, was observed to be an independent risk factor for breast cancer risk (OR 1.940, 95%CI 1.306–2.910) and clinic-pathological characters of breast cancer (OR 1.770–1.903). Conclusion Marrow adiposity is a predictor of postmenopausal breast cancer risk and clinic-pathological characters of breast cancer.