Associations Between Neurotransmitter Genes and Fatigue and Energy Levels in Women After Breast Cancer Surgery

• Published in: Journal of pain and symptom management Vol. 53; no. 1; pp. 67 - 84.e7
• Main Authors: Eshragh, Jasmine, RN, MS, Dhruva, Anand, MD, Paul, Steven M., PhD, Cooper, Bruce A., PhD, Mastick, Judy, RN, MN, Hamolsky, Deborah, RN, MS, Levine, Jon D., MD, PhD, Miaskowski, Christine, RN, PhD, Kober, Kord M., PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.01.2017
• Subjects: Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing - genetics; Adult; Aged; Anesthesia & Perioperative Care; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - genetics; breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - complications; Breast Neoplasms - genetics; Breast Neoplasms - surgery; candidate genes; Catechol O-Methyltransferase - genetics; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A - genetics; energy; Fatigue; Fatigue - etiology; Fatigue - genetics; Female; Genetic Association Studies; growth mixture modeling; Haplotypes; Humans; Middle Aged; neurotransmitter genes; Pain Medicine; Phenotype; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Postoperative Period; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 - genetics; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins - genetics; Fatigue; neurotransmitter genes; breast cancer; candidate genes; growth mixture modeling; energy
• ISSN: 0885-3924; 1873-6513
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.08.004

Abstract Context Fatigue is a common problem in oncology patients. Less is known about decrements in energy levels and the mechanisms that underlie both fatigue and energy. Objectives In patients with breast cancer, variations in neurotransmitter genes between lower and higher fatigue latent classes and between the higher and lower energy latent classes were evaluated. Methods Patients completed assessments before and monthly for six months after surgery. Growth mixture modeling was used to identify distinct latent classes for fatigue severity and energy levels. Thirty candidate genes involved in various aspects of neurotransmission were evaluated. Results Eleven single-nucleotide polymorphisms or haplotypes (i.e., ADRB2 rs1042718, BDNF rs6265, COMT rs9332377, CYP3A4 rs4646437, GALR1 rs949060, GCH1 rs3783642, NOS1 rs9658498, NOS1 rs2293052, NPY1R Haplotype A04, SLC6A2 rs17841327, and 5HTTLPR + rs25531 in SLC6A4 ) were associated with latent class membership for fatigue. Seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms or haplotypes (i.e., NOS1 rs471871, SLC6A1 rs2675163, SLC6A1 Haplotype D01, SLC6A2 rs36027, SLC6A3 rs37022, SLC6A4 rs2020942, and TAC1 rs2072100) were associated with latent class membership for energy. Three of 13 genes (i.e., NOS1 , SLC6A2 , and SLC6A4 ) were associated with latent class membership for both fatigue and energy. Conclusions Molecular findings support the hypothesis that fatigue and energy are distinct, yet related symptoms. Results suggest that a large number of neurotransmitters play a role in the development and maintenance of fatigue and energy levels in breast cancer patients.