Oncotarget: Relationship between apolipoprotein e genotype and fall rate and functional status in cancer survivors after exercise intervention

"This is the first time that the relationship between exercise, apolipoprotein E genotype, and cancer side effects and symptoms has been studied
in older female cancer survivors who participated in a large clinical exercise trial.
"

Buffalo, NY – November 22, 2022 – A new research paper was published Nov.
17, 2022 in Oncotarget's Volume 13 titled "Relationship between fall rate and functional status of APOE genotypes in cancer survivors following exercise interventions.
"

Cancer treatment survivors often report impaired function and an increased
number of falls.
Not all survivors experience the same burden of symptoms, suggesting individual sensitivity
.
The APOE genotype is a potential genetic risk factor
for side effects associated with cancer treatment.
Lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, can mitigate the effect
of APOE genotype on measures of clinical interest in individuals without a history of cancer.

In the new study, researchers Gwendolyn J.
McGinnis, Sarah Holden, Betty Yu, Charlton Ransom, Caroline Guidarelli, Brian De, K.
Diao, David Boyce, Charles R.
Thomas Jr.
, Carey Winterstone, and Jacob Raber from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Researchers at Oregon Health and Science University and Dartmouth-Hitchcockmouth Cancer Center tested the hypothesis
that the APOE genotype influences side effects and symptoms associated with cancer treatment and response to exercise interventions.

"In the current analysis, we investigated the modulating role of apoE genotype on functional status and symptom burden in response to exercise intervention in subsamples of trial participants
.
"

Subsample data from the Post-Treatment Fall Prevention Exercise Study (https://clinicaltrials.
gov NCT01635413) in female cancer survivors aged 50-75 years were used for secondary data analysis
.
ApE genotype
was determined by serosampling.
Survey instruments are used to assess physical function, fall frequency, and symptom burden
.

We analysed data from 126 female cancer survivors who spent an average of 49 months
after cancer diagnosis.
ApoE4 carriers tended to have a higher rate of decline at baseline (p = 0.
059), but a lower rate of decline after exercise interventions than E4 noncarriers, either after structured interventions (p = 0.
013) or after six months follow-up (p = 0.
002).

E2 carriers did not show improvement in depressive symptoms and self-reported disability
after exercise intervention.
Self-reported physical activity increased in E3 homozygotes after 6 months of exercise intervention, but not in E4 and E2 carriers
.

"The findings suggest that apolipoprotein E genotype may be associated with the presence and severity of side effects and symptoms associated with cancer treatment, and also influence cancer survivors' response
to exercise-based interventions.
"