Dr. Master on the Relationship Between Diet and Breast Cancer Recurrence

Aashini Master, DO, assistant clinical professor, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center, discusses the WINS and WHEL trials in patients with breast cancer.

The 2 main studies looking at women who have had a diagnosis of breast cancer and lifestyle modifications post-diagnosis are the WINS and WHEL trials. Both trials were run in parallel, though the data was published 1 year apart. The WINS trial showed a benefit in women who reduced their fat intake by approximately 20%. Women on average, had about a 6-pound weight loss and decreased their risk of breast cancer recurrence.

In the WHEL trial, the women who were in the intervention group didn’t demonstrate a weight loss. A 7.5-year follow-up did not demonstrate any benefit in recurrence-free survival. Physicians are now awaiting randomized trials to see if dietary fat reduction will lead to a benefit in recurrence risk, says Master.