Abstract B32: Serum adipokines and inflammatory markers in Hispanic breast cancer survivors
Authors: Tirado-Gomez Maribel , Palacios Cristina , Ortiz Alexis , Hughes Daniel C. , Gonzalez-Mercado Velda , Vallejo Liliana , Lozada Jose , Basen-Engquist Karen 
Published: October 2015

Objective: Physical activity can improve breast cancer survivor's physical and emotional well-being while reducing their risk of other chronic diseases and breast cancer recurrence. Although the exact biological mechanisms responsible for the decrease in breast cancer recurrence in those patients that exercise are not known, it is postulated that physical activity modulates serum markers of adiposity and inflammation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the change in adipokines and inflammatory markers in a group of Puerto Rican breast cancer survivors who participated in a 16-week exercise intervention.

Methods: The study recruited 38 women breast cancer survivors who were at least 3 months post treatment (surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy) and were not meeting current recommended physical activity guidelines according to ACSM. The study randomly assigned participants to a control group (no exercise; n=11), an intervention group that received culturally adapted written exercise materials (n=13), and an exercise control group (n=14) who received an exercise intervention that was not culturally tailored. Demographic and anthropometric data was obtained at baseline and at the end of the intervention. A fasting peripheral blood sample was obtained at baseline and at the end of the 16-week intervention. The serum was isolated by means of gradient centrifugation and stored at -80°C. Serum levels of Adiponectin, Leptin, IL-6 and C-reactive protein were measured by ELISA. One-way repeated measures ANOVA or Kruskall-Wallis test was utilized to compare differences among baseline and 16-weeks values. Statistical analyses were performed using Stata for Windows release 12.0 (Stata Corporation, College Station, Texas).

Results: Thirty-eight patients completed both baseline and 16 week assessments (11 controls; 14 in standard intervention, 13 in culturally tailored intervention. The mean age was 58 years (range 27-80). Most of the participants were overweight/obese (89%) with a mean BMI of 32.7 (21.3-51.6). Mean Leptin serum levels were 31.6 ng/mL (5.1-63.3 ng/mL ng/mL). Mean serum C-reactive protein levels were 4.15 ug/mL (0.5-8.7 ug/mL). Mean serum Adiponectin levels were 30.6 ng/mL (2.4-105.3 ng/mL). Mean serum IL-6 levels were 2.42 (0.7-10.2 pg/mL). At the end of the 16 week period, no differences (p &gt; 0.05) were found in BMI, or in the levels of the biological markers evaluated, leptin, adiponectin, IL-6 and C-reactive protein, when comparing to baseline neither in the control nor the interventions groups.

Conclusion: There were no significant differences in BMI, adipokines and inflammatory biomarkers as a result of this intervention. However, this preliminary data reveals a population with increased BMI where exercise and nutritional interventions are needed. It must be noted that this is a pilot study were the numbers of participants is small and the follow-up period is short, thus a higher number of participants is needed to further define the efficacy of this intervention.

Citation Format: Maribel Tirado-Gomez, Cristina Palacios, Alexis Ortiz, Daniel C. Hughes, Velda Gonzalez-Mercado, Liliana Vallejo, Jose Lozada, Karen Basen-Engquist. Serum adipokines and inflammatory markers in Hispanic breast cancer survivors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Seventh AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 9-12, 2014; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B32.