Does Fat Grafting Increase the Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence?

Autologous fat grafting, or “lipofilling”, is widely used in conjunction with breast cancer surgery:

1. it can correct partial breast defects after lumpectomy

2. it is used in conjunction with other breast reconstruction techniques to optimize breast contour and improve the final cosmetic results after both implant-based and autologous (flap) reconstruction

3. it is the primary breast reconstruction technique in male breast cancer patients

4. it can fill in contour defects and improve chest soft tissue padding after mastectomy in patients choosing to go flat

Fat grafting has also been shown to improve scar appearance, improve breast pain, and even reverse the soft tissue effects of radiotherapy (such as fibrosis).

The procedure involves liposuctioning from one part of the patient’s body, purifying it and then injected into the breast. It can be performed in conjunction with other breast procedures or as a stand-alone procedure. There are several fat grafting techniques that are used by plastic surgeons. There is no “set way” that has been shown to be the best in terms of long-term results. However, studies have shown that regardless of the technique used, the collection, handling, and transplantation of the fat cells must be optimized to obtain the best long-lasting results.

Despite the associated benefits, fat grafting in patients with a history of breast cancer has been somewhat restricted by 2 main concerns: the fear that it can interfere with breast cancer imaging, and that the regenerative cells could increase the risk of local breast cancer recurrence.

Some of the injected fat can turn hard after lipofilling. This is known as “fat necrosis”. Areas of fat necrosis cause calcifications (macrocalcifications) on mammograms. However, previous studies have shown that these macrocalcifications do not interfere with subsequent detection of breast cancer. The question regarding the risk of recurrence remains a topic of debate due to animal studies that have shown adipose-derived stem cells can stimulate cancer growth in nude mice. Although we don’t truly know whether the interaction between human fat tissue and cancer cells injected in immunodeficient mice can accurately reflect what happens in people, this uncertainty has led to obvious concerns about lipofilling patients with a history of breast cancer, particularly after a lumpectomy.

A recent study aimed to answer whether patients with breast cancer treated with autologous fat grafting are at an increased risk of cancer relapse compared with those who receive conventional breast reconstruction alone. No significant difference in the rate of local recurrence was seen after a 5-year follow-up. These findings confirm the results of previous studies; there is no clinical evidence to suggest that autologous fat grafting increases the risk of local breast cancer recurrence.