Abstract:Fatigue is a persistent and debilitating symptom following cancer treatments such as chemotherapy. Recent clinical studies have suggested a common single-nucleotide polymorphism of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Val66Met (rs6265), may be related to the severity of fatigue following cancer treatment. In this study, we tested transgenic mice homozygous for the human Val66Met BDNF gene and wild-type controls. We injected three doses of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) as a model of chemotherapy treatment, and we u… Show more
Purpose
This study examined the relationships between a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) rs6265 and psychoneurological (PN) symptoms in female cancer survivors.
Methods
This secondary analysis examined 393 study participants. In addition to demographic variables, self-reported PN symptom scores (anxiety, bodily pain, depression, fatigue, neuropathic pain, and sleep disturbance) were collected using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System and 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey. Buccal swab samples were collected to obtain genotypes for BDNF rs6265 (Val/Val, Val/Met, or Met/Met). The PN symptom scores were compared across genotypes, and the relationships were examined using a regression model. We also explored correlations between different symptoms within each genotype.
Results
Participants with the Met/Met genotype reported significantly worse cancer-related fatigue and neuropathic pain, which was confirmed by rank-based regression analysis. In addition, cancer-related fatigue was correlated with other PN symptoms, particularly depression. These correlations were stronger in study participants with the Met/Met genotype than those with other genotypes.
Conclusion
Our study suggests that female cancer survivors with the Met/Met genotype of BDNF rs6265 are likely to experience worse cancer-related fatigue and neuropathic pain and that cancer-related fatigue is a good predictor of co-occurring PN symptoms in this population.
Implications for Cancer Survivors
Our findings advance the scientific community's understanding of cancer-related PN symptoms experienced by female cancer survivors, especially the unique role of BDNF rs6265 polymorphism in these symptoms. Our findings offer valuable insights for clinical practice that the symptom experience among female cancer survivors may vary based on BDNF genotypes.
Purpose
This study examined the relationships between a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) rs6265 and psychoneurological (PN) symptoms in female cancer survivors.
Methods
This secondary analysis examined 393 study participants. In addition to demographic variables, self-reported PN symptom scores (anxiety, bodily pain, depression, fatigue, neuropathic pain, and sleep disturbance) were collected using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System and 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey. Buccal swab samples were collected to obtain genotypes for BDNF rs6265 (Val/Val, Val/Met, or Met/Met). The PN symptom scores were compared across genotypes, and the relationships were examined using a regression model. We also explored correlations between different symptoms within each genotype.
Results
Participants with the Met/Met genotype reported significantly worse cancer-related fatigue and neuropathic pain, which was confirmed by rank-based regression analysis. In addition, cancer-related fatigue was correlated with other PN symptoms, particularly depression. These correlations were stronger in study participants with the Met/Met genotype than those with other genotypes.
Conclusion
Our study suggests that female cancer survivors with the Met/Met genotype of BDNF rs6265 are likely to experience worse cancer-related fatigue and neuropathic pain and that cancer-related fatigue is a good predictor of co-occurring PN symptoms in this population.
Implications for Cancer Survivors
Our findings advance the scientific community's understanding of cancer-related PN symptoms experienced by female cancer survivors, especially the unique role of BDNF rs6265 polymorphism in these symptoms. Our findings offer valuable insights for clinical practice that the symptom experience among female cancer survivors may vary based on BDNF genotypes.
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