Table 1 In- and exclusion criteria of the study population
Group | Inclusion criteria | Exclusion criteria |
|---|---|---|
Patients with breast cancer | • Women • > 18 years • First diagnosis of breast cancer • Primary breast cancer • Registered for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (paclitaxel) | • Men with breast cancer • < 18 years • Breast cancer as secondary tumor (metastasis) • Prior treatment for breast cancer (e.g., surgery) |
Healthy controls | • Women • Age: 40–65 years • General good health as follows: The absence of metabolic diseases (hyper-/hypothyroidism, burn wounds, liver diseases) and < 2 metabolic dysfunctions (hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, insulin resistance, increase in blood glucose) • No common cold or flu < 2 weeks ago • No surgery < 1 month ago • No current use of pharmaceuticals • No cancer experienced in the past | • Men • Age: < 40 years; > 65 years • The presence of metabolic diseases, > 2 metabolic dysfunctions • Common cold or flu < 2 weeks ago • Surgery < 1 month ago • Current use of pharmaceuticals • Cancer experienced in the past |