Bone Quality Test (BQT) scores of fingernails in postmenopausal patients treated with adjuvant letrozole or tamoxifen for early breast cancer

BackgroundThe relationship between nail and bone may be measurable, thus making the fingernail a potentially valuable tool for assessing bone health for women receiving treatment for breast cancer. In the BIG 1-98 Fingernail Pilot Substudy, Bone Quality Test (BQT) scores of fingernails were measured at two assessment timepoints.MethodsThirteen eligible patients were enrolled into the substudy during their treatment with tamoxifen (four patients) or letrozole (nine patients). Two fingernails were tested and BQT scores averaged for two assessments six months apart.ResultsBQT scores collected six months later (second assessment) significantly decreased compared with those at first collection (p = 0.007) regardless of treatment and prior fracture.ConclusionThe reduction of BQT scores observed in the patients of our small exploratory study during exposure to bone-altering breast cancer treatments is an incentive for larger studies using this technique.