Lifestyle Modifications and Breast Cancer Risk

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2022) | Viewed by 16766

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Penn State College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, PA 17033, USA
Interests: obesity related breast cancer; omega-3 fatty acids; breast cancer prevention; hormonal therapy

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Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, PA 17033, USA
Interests: chemoprevention of breast cancer by synthetic and naturally occurring compounds; biomarkers for early detection of breast cancer; mechanisms of environmental carcinogenesis

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide with over 2 million cases diagnosed in 2018. Despite a decline in its incidence in the United States, it remains the most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality in American women. In 2020, 276,480 new cases of invasive cancer and 48,530 new cases of in situ breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the U.S. In 2020, 42,170 women are expected to die in the U.S. from this malignancy. Prevention represents the optimal approach to reduce breast cancer morbidity and mortality. However, it remains challenging, given the multitude of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors that contribute to breast cancer risk. While the antiestrogens Tamoxifen and Raloxifene are effective in reducing the incidence of estrogen receptor-positive tumors, they are not widely accepted even by women at high risk because of fear of toxicity, particularly venous thromboembolism. Furthermore, they do not reduce the incidence of estrogen receptor-negative tumors, which are associated with poor prognosis. Lifestyle modifications are also effective in reducing breast cancer risk. Such interventions are attractive since they are not associated with toxic effects but rather with health-promoting effects that go beyond just breast cancer prevention.

In this Special Issue, experts in this field will review the role of dietary changes, physical activity, and maintenance of ideal body weight in reducing breast cancer risk. A particular emphasis will be placed on the role of lifestyle modifications in reducing the incidence of obesity-related breast cancer given the epidemic proportions reached by obesity in the U.S. and its rising incidence in underdeveloped countries.

Prof. Dr. Andrea Manni
Prof. Dr. Karam El Bayoumy
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • breast cancer prevention
  • obesity-related breast cancer
  • diet
  • physical activity
  • lifestyle modifications

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 189 KiB  
Editorial
Lifestyle Modifications and Breast Cancer Risk
by Andrea Manni and Karam El-Bayoumy
Cancers 2023, 15(11), 2870; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15112870 - 23 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1800
Abstract
Lifestyle modifications have been shown to be effective in reducing breast cancer [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lifestyle Modifications and Breast Cancer Risk)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

17 pages, 3039 KiB  
Article
Peripubertal Nutritional Prevention of Cancer-Associated Gene Expression and Phenotypes
by Andrew Brane, Itika Arora and Trygve O. Tollefsbol
Cancers 2023, 15(3), 674; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15030674 - 21 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2215
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is a nearly ubiquitous malignancy that effects the lives of millions worldwide. Recently, nutritional prevention of BC has received increased attention due to its efficacy and ease of application. Chief among chemopreventive compounds are plant-based substances known as dietary phytochemicals. [...] Read more.
Breast cancer (BC) is a nearly ubiquitous malignancy that effects the lives of millions worldwide. Recently, nutritional prevention of BC has received increased attention due to its efficacy and ease of application. Chief among chemopreventive compounds are plant-based substances known as dietary phytochemicals. Sulforaphane (SFN), an epigenetically active phytochemical found in cruciferous vegetables, has shown promise in BC prevention. In addition, observational studies suggest that the life stage of phytochemical consumption may influence its anticancer properties. These life stages, called critical periods (CPs), are associated with rapid development and increased susceptibility to cellular damage. Puberty, a CP in which female breast tissue undergoes proliferation and differentiation, is of particular interest for later-life BC development. However, little is known about the importance of nutritional chemoprevention to CPs. We sought to address this by utilizing two estrogen receptor-negative [ER(-)] transgenic mouse models fed SFN-containing broccoli sprout extract during the critical period of puberty. We found that this treatment resulted in a significant decrease in tumor incidence and weight, as well as an increase in tumor latency. Further, we found significant alterations in the long-term expression of cancer-associated genes, including p21, p53, and BRCA2. Additionally, our transcriptomic analyses identified expressional changes in many cancer-associated genes, and bisulfite sequencing revealed that the antiproliferation-associated gene Erich4 was both hypomethylated and overexpressed in our experimental group. Our study indicates that dietary interventions during the CP of puberty may be important for later-life ER(-) BC prevention and highlights potential important genetic and epigenetic targets for treatment and study of the more deadly variants of BC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lifestyle Modifications and Breast Cancer Risk)
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15 pages, 2596 KiB  
Article
Physical Activity and Long-Term Risk of Breast Cancer, Associations with Time in Life and Body Composition in the Prospective Malmö Diet and Cancer Study
by Öykü Boraka, Marie Klintman and Ann H. Rosendahl
Cancers 2022, 14(8), 1960; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14081960 - 13 Apr 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3605
Abstract
Being physically active as part of everyday life reduces breast cancer risk. Less is known whether the benefits of an active lifestyle differ depending on the timing of physical activity in life or anthropometric characteristics. The aim of this study was to bring [...] Read more.
Being physically active as part of everyday life reduces breast cancer risk. Less is known whether the benefits of an active lifestyle differ depending on the timing of physical activity in life or anthropometric characteristics. The aim of this study was to bring further insights to the association of physical activity in relation to menopausal status and body composition with breast cancer risk by making use of a prospective Swedish cohort (Malmö Diet and Cancer Study) with long-term follow-up. Physical activity information of 15,983 participants for the past 12 months prior to study entry was assessed according to metabolic equivalent task (MET)-hours/week to integrate duration and intensity of reported activities. During 23.2 years median follow-up, 1302 invasive breast cancers occurred. Women reporting a high physical activity at study baseline, corresponding to >1 h daily walking/week (≥28.5 MET-h/week), had a 23% lower long-term breast cancer risk (HRadj = 0.77, 95% CI 0.66–0.90) than those reporting low physical activity, being most pronounced among perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, and women with waist circumference, body fat percentage, or BMI in the upper-normal and overweight range. For premenopausal women or women having obesity or the largest body composition, high physical activity alone did not modify the breast cancer risk, suggesting additional preventive measures indicated in these groups to reduce the long-term risk of breast cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lifestyle Modifications and Breast Cancer Risk)
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21 pages, 4555 KiB  
Article
Building a Foundation for Precision Onco-Nutrition: Docosahexaenoic Acid and Breast Cancer
by Henry J. Thompson, Elizabeth S. Neil, John N. McGinley, Vanessa K. Fitzgerald, Karam El Bayoumy and Andrea Manni
Cancers 2022, 14(1), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14010157 - 29 Dec 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2131
Abstract
In vivo evidence of heterogeneous effects of n-3 fatty acids (N3FA) on cell signaling pathways associated with the reduced growth of breast cancer has been reported and is consistent with the expectation that N3FA will not exert uniform effects on all molecular subtypes [...] Read more.
In vivo evidence of heterogeneous effects of n-3 fatty acids (N3FA) on cell signaling pathways associated with the reduced growth of breast cancer has been reported and is consistent with the expectation that N3FA will not exert uniform effects on all molecular subtypes of the disease. Similarly, available evidence indicates that many metabolites of N3FA are synthesized by mammalian cells and that they exert metabolite-specific biological activities. To begin to unravel the complex relationships among molecular subtypes and effects exerted by specific N3FA metabolites on those pathways, proof-of-concept experiments were conducted using cell lines representative of common molecular subtypes of human breast cancer. N3FA differed in anticancer activity with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) having greater anticancer activity than eicosapentaenoic acid. 4-oxo-docosahexaenoic (4-oxo-DHA), a penultimate metabolite of 5-lipoxygenase mediated DHA metabolism, induced dose-dependent inhibition of cell number accumulation with apoptosis as a primary effector mechanism. Interrogation of protein expression data using the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) bioinformatics platform indicated that 4-oxo-DHA differentially impacted six canonical pathways and the cellular functions they regulate across common molecular subtypes of breast cancer. This included the endocannabinoid pathway for cancer inhibition that has not been previously reported. These findings provide a rationale for juxtaposing molecular subtype targeted treatment strategies with the adjuvant use of specific N3FA metabolites as an example of precision onco-nutrition (PON) for the management and control of breast cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lifestyle Modifications and Breast Cancer Risk)
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18 pages, 2280 KiB  
Article
Rapid Escalation of High-Volume Exercise during Caloric Restriction; Change in Visceral Adipose Tissue and Adipocytokines in Obese Sedentary Breast Cancer Survivors
by Carol J. Fabian, Jennifer R. Klemp, Nicholas J. Marchello, Eric D. Vidoni, Debra K. Sullivan, Jennifer L. Nydegger, Teresa A. Phillips, Amy L. Kreutzjans, Bill Hendry, Christie A. Befort, Lauren Nye, Kandy R. Powers, Stephen D. Hursting, Erin D. Giles, Jill M. Hamilton-Reeves, Bing Li and Bruce F. Kimler
Cancers 2021, 13(19), 4871; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13194871 - 28 Sep 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3405
Abstract
Aerobic exercise reduces risk for breast cancer and recurrence and promotes visceral adipose tissue (VAT) loss in obesity. However, few breast cancer survivors achieve recommended levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) without supervision. In a two-cohort study, feasibility of 12 weeks [...] Read more.
Aerobic exercise reduces risk for breast cancer and recurrence and promotes visceral adipose tissue (VAT) loss in obesity. However, few breast cancer survivors achieve recommended levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) without supervision. In a two-cohort study, feasibility of 12 weeks of partially supervised exercise was started concomitantly with caloric restriction and effects on body composition and systemic risk biomarkers were explored. In total, 22 obese postmenopausal sedentary women (including 18 breast cancer survivors) with median age of 60 and BMI of 37 kg/m2 were enrolled. Using personal trainers twice weekly at area YMCAs, MVPA was escalated to ≥200 min/week over 9 weeks. For cohort 2, maintenance of effect was assessed when study provided trainer services were stopped but monitoring, group counseling sessions, and access to the exercise facility were continued. Median post-escalation MVPA was 219 min/week with median 12-week mass and VAT loss of 8 and 19%. MVPA was associated with VAT loss which was associated with improved adiponectin:leptin ratio. In total, 9/11 of cohort-2 women continued the behavioral intervention for another 12 weeks without trainers. High MVPA continued with median 24-week mass and VAT loss of 12 and 29%. This intervention should be further studied in obese sedentary women. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lifestyle Modifications and Breast Cancer Risk)
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14 pages, 671 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Exercise Duration and Intensity on Breast Cancer-Related DNA Methylation: A Randomized Controlled Trial
by Arielle S. Gillman, Timothy Helmuth, Claire E. Koljack, Kent E. Hutchison, Wendy M. Kohrt and Angela D. Bryan
Cancers 2021, 13(16), 4128; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13164128 - 17 Aug 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2453
Abstract
Emerging research suggests that one mechanism through which physical activity may decrease cancer risk is through its influence on the methylation of genes associated with cancer. The purpose of the current study was to prospectively test, using a rigorous experimental design, whether aerobic [...] Read more.
Emerging research suggests that one mechanism through which physical activity may decrease cancer risk is through its influence on the methylation of genes associated with cancer. The purpose of the current study was to prospectively test, using a rigorous experimental design, whether aerobic exercise affects DNA methylation in genes associated with breast cancer, as well as whether quantity of exercise completed affects change in DNA methylation in a dose–response manner. 276 women (M age = 37.25, SD = 4.64) were recruited from the Denver metro area for a randomized controlled trial in which participants were assigned to a supervised aerobic exercise program varying in a fully crossed design by intensity (55–65% versus 75–85% of VO2max) and duration (40 versus 20 min per session). DNA methylation was assessed via blood samples provided at baseline, after completing a 16-week supervised exercise intervention, and six months after the intervention. 137 participants completed the intervention, and 81 had viable pre-post methylation data. Contrary to our hypotheses, total exercise volume completed in kcal/kg/week was not associated with methylation from baseline to post-intervention for any of the genes of interest. An increase in VO2max over the course of the intervention, however, was associated with decreased post-intervention methylation of BRCA1, p = 0.01. Higher levels of self-reported exercise during the follow-up period were associated with lower levels of GALNT9 methylation at the six-month follow-up. This study provides hypothesis-generating evidence that increased exercise behavior and or increased fitness might affect methylation of some genes associated with breast cancer to reduce risk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lifestyle Modifications and Breast Cancer Risk)
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