Weight Regain and Breast Cancer-Related Biomarkers Following an Exercise Intervention in Postmenopausal Women.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Epidemiologic studies have reported associations between weight fluctuations and postmenopausal breast cancer risk; however, the biological markers involved in this association are unknown. This study aimed to explore the associations between breast cancer-related biomarkers and weight regain following exercise-induced weight loss.

METHODS:

From the 400 participants included in the Breast Cancer and Exercise Trial in Alberta, a total of 214 lost weight during the intervention and had follow-up blood samples, body composition, and covariate measurements. Outcomes were measured at baseline, 12 months (end of the study), and 24 months (follow-up).

RESULTS:

During follow-up, weight regain was 1.80 kg [95% confidence interval (CI): -0.40-3.90], and was significantly associated with increases in estradiol [treatment effect ratio (TER) = 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.04], estrone (TER = 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.03), free estradiol (TER = 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02-1.05), the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (TER = 1.03; 95% CI, 1.02-1.05), and insulin (TER = 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.04), and decreases in sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG; TER = 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97-0.99) levels. Nonstatistically significant associations were found for glucose and C-reactive protein. Furthermore, a statistically significant linear trend of increasing levels for all biomarkers, and decreasing SHBG, across weight regain categories was found.

CONCLUSIONS:

These results suggest that weight regain following exercise-induced weight loss is associated with breast cancer-related biomarker changes in postmenopausal women.

IMPACT:

These findings provide evidence to support the importance of developing effective strategies to prevent weight regain and, consequently, decrease postmenopausal breast cancer risk via changes in adiposity-related biomarkers.

• Authors: Paola Gonzalo-Encabo, Jessica McNeil, Alberto Pérez-López, David Valades, Kerry S Courneya, Christine M Friedenreich
• Journal: Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev) Vol. 30 Issue 6 Pg. 1260-1269 (06 2021) ISSN: 1538-7755 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 33737300 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: ©2021 American Association for Cancer Research.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• SHBG protein, human
• Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin
• Estrone
• Estradiol

Topics

• Aged
• Biomarkers, Tumor (blood, metabolism)
• Body Composition
• Breast Neoplasms (metabolism, prevention & control)
• Estradiol (blood, metabolism)
• Estrone (blood, metabolism)
• Exercise Therapy
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Postmenopause (blood, metabolism)
• Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (analysis, metabolism)
• Weight Gain
• Weight Loss