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. 2013 May-Jun;36(3):189-97.
doi: 10.1097/NCC.0b013e318263f514.

Mitochondria-related gene expression changes are associated with fatigue in patients with nonmetastatic prostate cancer receiving external beam radiation therapy

Chao-Pin Hsiao  1 , Dan Wang, Aradhana Kaushal, Leorey Saligan
Affiliations

Mitochondria-related gene expression changes are associated with fatigue in patients with nonmetastatic prostate cancer receiving external beam radiation therapy

Chao-Pin Hsiao et al. Cancer Nurs. 2013 May-Jun.

Abstract

Background: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is associated with negative health outcomes and decreased health-related quality of life; however, few longitudinal studies have investigated molecular-genetic mechanisms of CRF.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe relationships between mitochondria-related gene expression changes and self-reported fatigue in prostate cancer patients receiving external beam radiation therapy (EBRT).

Methods: A prospective, exploratory, and repeated-measures design was used. Self-report questionnaires and peripheral whole-blood samples were collected from 15 patients at 7 time points. Baseline data were compared against 15 healthy controls. The Human Mitochondria RT Profiler PCR Array was used to identify differential regulation of genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and function.

Results: Compared with baseline, there were significant increases in fatigue scores (P = .02-.04) and changes in mitochondria-related gene expression (P = .001-.05) over time. Mean fatigue scores were 1.66 (SD, 1.66) at baseline, 3.06 (SD, 1.95) at EBRT midpoint, 2.98 (SD, 2.20) at EBRT completion, and 2.64 (SD, 2.56) at 30 days after EBRT. Over time, 11 genes related to mitochondrial function and structure were differentially expressed. Of these 11 genes, 3 (BCL2L1, FIS1, SLC25A37) were more than 2.5 fold up-regulated, and 8 (AIFM2, BCL2, IMMP2L, MIPEP, MSTO1, NEFL, SLC25A23, SLC25A4) were greater than 2-fold down-regulated. Furthermore, 8 genes (AIFM2, BCL2, FIS1, IMMP2L, MSTO1, SLC25A23, SLC25A37, SLC25A4) were significantly associated with the changes in fatigue scores.

Conclusion: This study provides preliminary evidence that 8 mitochondrial function genes were significantly associated with fatigue in prostate cancer patients during EBRT.

Implications for practice: These findings identify possible pathways and early biomarkers for targeting novel interventions for CRF.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Piper Fatigue Score. Fifteen patients reported fatigue from prior to external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) (day 0), following EBRT (days 1 to 42) and 30 days after the last EBRT (day 72). One patient (patient 10) did not report any fatigue at any time point; 2 patients (patients 5 and 11) reported marked, sustained increases in fatigue following EBRT.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Three up-regulated genes.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Eight down-regulated genes.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The network pathways of combined observations from 4 time points (days 14, 21, 42, and 72). The threshold for analysis is 1.5-fold up- or down-regulation and P < .05. Copyright permission was obtained from Ingenuity Systems on February 18, 2011.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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