(P13-026-23) Intake of Fermented Products Was Associated With the Risk of Cancer Recurrence and Mortality in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Prospective Cohort Study

Objectives: The purpose of our study was to investigate the hypothesis that the intake of fermented soy products and fermented dairy products, but not fermented vegetable products, was associated with reduced cancer recurrence and mortality in breast cancer survivors.

Methods: Women (n=606) who underwent breast cancer surgery and a dietary survey using a 24-hour recall within 3 years after surgery were recruited. The patients were followed up for a mean survival time of 89 months, ranging from 7 to 184 months. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to identify the association between cancer recurrence and consumption of fermented products after adjustment of age, alcohol consumption, smoking, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and age at menarche as confounding factors.

Results: The risk of cancer recurrence was inversely associated with the intake of fermented soy products (Hazard ratios (HRs):0.976, 95% confidence intervals (CI):0.95-0.99) and fermented dairy products (HRs:0.992, 95% CI:0.98-0.99). Furthermore, the risk of cancer recurrence was inversely associated with the intake of fermented soy products in relation to hormone receptor status, such as hormone receptor-positive (HRs:0.296, 95% CI:0.11-0.79), estrogen receptor-positive (HRs:0.971, 95% CI:0.94-0.99), and progesterone receptor-positive (HRs:0.972, 95% CI:0.94-0.99). Mortality was also negatively associated with the intake of fermented soy products (HRs:0.967, 95% CI:0.93-0.99). Moreover, disease-free survival (P=0.001) and overall survival (P=0.004) were positively associated with the intake of fermented soy products. However, the intake of fermented vegetable products had no significant effect on cancer recurrence or mortality.

Conclusions: This study suggests that the intake of fermented soy products and fermented dairy products could be beneficial in preventing cancer recurrence.

Funding Sources: This work was supported by the BK21 FOUR (Fostering Outstanding Universities for Research) project of the National Research Foundation of Korea Grant and a National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean Government (MSIT).