• Chao-Pin Hsiao, Dan Wang, Aradhana Kaushal, and Leorey Saligan.
• National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. hsiaoc@mail.nih.gov
• Cancer Nurs. 2013 May 1;36(3):189-97.

BackgroundCancer-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.ObjectiveThe 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).MethodsA 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.ResultsCompared 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.ConclusionThis study provides preliminary evidence that 8 mitochondrial function genes were significantly associated with fatigue in prostate cancer patients during EBRT.Implications For PracticeThese findings identify possible pathways and early biomarkers for targeting novel interventions for CRF.

42 keywords...

hide…