Impact of Vitamin B12 on outcome of Early Stage Luminal A and B Breast Cancer, single center experience

Abstract Background: Despite the fact that many studies have shown that vitamin B12 has no benefit in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, many doctors describe vitamin B12 for chemotherapy or hormonal treatment. Some studies have shown that it is effective in cancer treatment-related fatigue, especially with B12 deficiency anaemia. Vitamin B12 has anti-oxidant properties through a variety of mechanisms. Many clinical recommendations are against using antioxidants during cancer treatment; there is concern that using dietary supplements, particularly antioxidants, during treatment may reduce treatment efficacy. Methods: This is a retrospective study as part of Zeinab Gaber's thesis that reviewed the electronic records of 129 female breast cancer patients with stage I and II luminal (A&B) who were treated at the clinical oncology department, faculty of medicine, Beni-Suef University, Egypt, from the beginning of January 2015 to the end of December 2019. Results: There was no disease-free survival (DFS) difference in luminal A breast cancer that received or did not receive vitamin B12, with median DFS 80 months versus 81 months for received and not received Vitamin B12, respectively (SE 2.55-3.54, 95% CI, 0.74 to 0.88; P 0.843), and there was no DFS difference in luminal B breast cancer that received or did not receive Vitamin B12, with median DFS 76 months versus 73 months for received and not received Vitamin. There was no overall survival (OS) difference in luminal A breast cancer that received or did not receive vitamin B12, with median OS 83 months versus 82 months for received and not received Vitamin B12, respectively (SE 2.16-2.73, 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.89; P 0.865), and there was no OS difference in luminal B breast cancer that received or did not receive Vitamin B12, with median OS 81 months versus 80 months for received and not received Vitamin B12, respectively (SE 1.78-2.68, 95% CI, 0.75 to 0.85; P 0.572). Conclusion: Vitamin B12 had no effect on DFS or OS in luminal A or B early breast cancer patients and can be used safely when indicated.