Association between body mass index, obesity, and vulvar cancer recurrence.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this paper is to study the association between obesity and tumor recurrence in patients with vulvar cancer.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study including vulvar cancer patients from 2003 to 2022. Our primary outcome was progression-free survival (PFS) stratified by status of obesity, defined as body mass index (BMI) >30.0 kg/m2.

RESULTS

Overall, 48 patients were included in the study, with 32 (66.7%) diagnosed at early stages (I-II). The median BMI was 28.0 kg/m2 [interquartile range 24.9-32.3 kg/m2]. There were 13 obese patients (27%), and the median follow-up time was 55 months [interquartile range 14-102]. Most patients (80%) were HPV-independent of human papilloma virus. Surgical intervention was the primary treatment modality for 88% (n = 42) of the cohort, and 26 patients (54%) received adjuvant chemoradiation. Disease recurrence was identified in 28 patients (58%). The median PFS was 68 months, and the median overall survival was 109 months. There was no difference in the median PFS between obese patients and non-obese patients (P = 0.370). In a Cox regression analysis, after adjusting for patient age, margin-free distance, and stage of disease, BMI was not associated with PFS hazard ratio 1.06 (0.99-1.12).

CONCLUSION

Obesity is not associated with PFS in patients with vulvar cancer, and BMI might not be considered a risk factor for recurrence.