Estimation of Correlation between Quetelet’s Index and Nottingham Prognostic Index in Patients of Carcinoma Breast: A Study Protocol

Background: Carcinoma breast is the most prevalent neoplasm in women with the highest death rate associated with cancer worldwide. In Indian women, breast cancer ranks first, followed by cervical cancer, with its incidence increasing day by day. Obesity is an important modifiable causative factor of carcinoma breast, associated with a greater chance of contracting breast cancer, and with worse prognosis in women of all age groups. It exhibits a state of chronic-inflammation, adipokine-imbalance, insulin-resistance and increased oestrogen-signalling. This pro-tumorigenic environment stimulates cancer deveoplment through abnormal proliferation and survival of breast tissue. Quetelet’s Index is the most commonly used index to classify obesity, whereas the Nottingham Prognostic Index is the most widely used index for longevity assessment and prognosis of breast cancer patients. This study estimates the correlation between Quetelet’s index with Nottingham Prognostic Index.

Methods: This prospective observational study will be to be conducted in the Department of Pathology, JNMC, Wardha and AVBRH, Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha in coordination with the Department of General Surgery. Total 35 cases of Carcinoma Breast undergoing Modified Radical Mastectomy will be included in the study. Clinicopathological and anthropometric data of patients will be collected. The Quetelet’s Index and the Nottingham Prognostic Index will be determined for each patient and data will be analyzed with appropriate statistical tests to estimate the correlation between them.

Results: Statistically significant correlation is expected between Quetelet’s Index and the Nottingham Prognostic Index.

Conclusion: Conclusion will be drawn on positive/negative correlation of Quetelet’s Index with different parameters of Nottingham’s Prognostic Index.