The DietCompLyf study: A prospective cohort study of breast cancer survival and phytoestrogen consumption

Abstract

DietCompLyf is a multi-centre prospective study designed to investigate associations between phytoestrogensnaturally occurring plant compounds with oestrogenic properties -and other diet and lifestyle factors with breast cancer recurrence and survival. 3159 women with grade I-III breast cancer were recruited 9-15 months postdiagnosis from 56 UK hospitals. Detailed information on clinico-pathological, diet, lifestyle and quality of life is collected annually up to 5 years. Biological samples have also been collected as a resource for subsequent evaluation. The characteristics of the patients and associations between pre-diagnosis intake of phytoestrogens (isoflavones and lignans; assessed using the EPIC-Norfolk UK 130 question food frequency questionnaire) and breast cancer (i) risk factors and (ii) prognostic factors are described for 1797 women who had complete data for all covariates and phytoestrogens of interest. Isoflavone intakes were higher in the patients who were younger at diagnosis, in the non-smokers, those who had breast-fed and those who took supplements. Lignan intakes were higher in patients with a higher age at diagnosis, in ex-smokers, those who had breast-fed, who took supplements, had a lower BMI at diagnosis, lower age at menarche and were nulliparous. No significant associations between pre-diagnosis phytoestrogen intake and factors associated with improved breast cancer prognosis were observed. The potential for further exploration of the relationship between phytoestrogens and breast cancer recurrence and survival, and for the establishment of evidence to improve dietary and lifestyle advice offered to patients following breast cancer diagnosis using DietCompLyf data is discussed.

Breast Cancer Cell Apoptosis with Phytoestrogens Is Dependent on an Estrogen-Deprived State

“…Fink and colleagues (32) reported a decreased allcause mortality in patients with pre-and postmenopausal breast cancer who had a high intake of isoflavones, whereas a reduced breast cancer-related mortality was observed in postmenopausal women. However, the DietCompLyf study (33), which investigated associations between phytoestrogens and breast cancer recurrence and survival, found no significant associations between prediagnosis phytoestrogen intake and reduced breast cancer risk. Interestingly, Shu and colleagues (34) found that soy food consumption was significantly associated with decreased risk of death and recurrence in patients with breast cancer.…”

PhytoCloud: A Gamified Mobile Web Application to Modulate Diet and Physical Activity of Women with Breast Cancer

“…Users shall be able to complete the DietCompLyf [5] food frequency questionnaire to create a health profile of their dietary habits. FR6.…”

“…DietCompLyf [3], an ongoing study where members of the Cancer Research Group at the University of Westminster undertook principle role as research investigation, was set up to see if diet, complementary therapies and lifestyle factors have an effect on breast cancer survival. Data from 3,159 patients from 56 UK-based hospitals have being studied in terms of their diet and lifestyle and their long term outcomes [5]. The DietCompLyf study has shown that approximately half of all patients with breast cancer make a dietary or lifestyle change within 12 ±3 months following diagnosis [6].…”

“…The DietCompLyf study has shown that approximately half of all patients with breast cancer make a dietary or lifestyle change within 12 ±3 months following diagnosis [6]. At recruitment 92.2% of patients on the DietCompLyf study completed the 130-item food frequency questionnaire and similarly 94.7% of patients completed the lifestyle questionnaire, highlighting the highly motivated nature of this group of individuals [5]. The completion of the lifestyle questionnaire is based on recording data of patients in monthly basis.…”

The anticancer properties of phytochemical extracts from Salvia plants

“…60 Epidemiological evidence suggests a lower incidence of breast cancer in Asia relative to that in Western countries and this relationship is due to the high consumption of phytoestrogen-rich foods (soybean and their products) in Asia. Although the relationship between phytoestrogen intake and breast cancer risk is not yet conclusive in epidemiology, ample evidence shows that phytoestrogen-rich plants have a positive effect in decreasing breast tumor incidence.…”