Journal
NURSING RESEARCH
Volume 71, Issue 5, Pages 411-417Publisher
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
DOI: 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000598
Keywords
breast cancer; cancer survivors; fatigue; fish oil; mitochondria; mitochondrial DNA
Categories
Funding
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute (NCI) [UG1CA189961, T32CA102618, R03CA175599, K07CA168911, R01CA231014, K07CA221931, K07CA187546]
- Maryland Department of Health's Cigarette Restitution Fund Program
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This study investigated the relationship between mitochondrial DNA gene expression and cancer-related fatigue, as well as the effects of fish and soybean oil supplementation on these relationships. The results showed that cancer-related fatigue improved and expression of all mtDNA genes decreased over the course of treatment. Additionally, participants with lower baseline mtDNA gene expression had greater improvements in cancer-related fatigue.
Background Cancer-related fatigue is a prevalent, debilitating, and persistent condition. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a putative contributor to cancer-related fatigue, but relationships between mitochondrial function and cancer-related fatigue are not well understood. Objectives We investigated the relationships between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) gene expression and cancer-related fatigue, as well as the effects of fish and soybean oil supplementation on these relationships. Methods A secondary analysis was performed on data from a randomized controlled trial of breast cancer survivors 4-36 months posttreatment with moderate-severe cancer-related fatigue. Participants were randomized to take 6 g fish oil, 6 g soybean oil, or 3 g each daily for 6 weeks. At pre- and postintervention, participants completed the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue questionnaire and provided whole blood for assessment of mtDNA gene expression. The expression of 12 protein-encoding genes was reduced to a single dimension using principal component analysis for use in regression analysis. Relationships between mtDNA expression and cancer-related fatigue were assessed using linear regression. Results Among 68 participants, cancer-related fatigue improved and expression of all mtDNA genes decreased over 6 weeks with no effect of treatment group on either outcome. Participants with lower baseline mtDNA gene expression had greater improvements in cancer-related fatigue. No significant associations were observed between mtDNA gene expression and cancer-related fatigue at baseline or changes in mtDNA gene expression and changes in cancer-related fatigue. Discussion Data from this exploratory study add to the growing literature that mitochondrial dysfunction may contribute to the etiology and pathophysiology of cancer-related fatigue.
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