Search

Background: Breast cancer survivors have an increased risk for comorbid conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension. In addition, cancer related treatments negatively affect bone health, muscular strength, and quality of life. Exercise is an effective strategy to combat cancer related symptoms (fatigue, anxiety) and common comorbid conditions. MOTS-c is a Mitochondrial Derived Peptide (MDP) that has a number of beneficial effects on metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and exercise capacity. Previously published preclinical studies have shown that MOTS-c treatment improves physical performance in young, middle-age, and old mice. In humans, it has been implicated to promote metabolic homeostasis, stimulate glucose utilization, fat-oxidation, reduce inflammation, and protect against both cardiovascular and metabolic disease. We implemented a 12-week exercise program in breast cancer survivors. We evaluated changes in baseline and post12-week MOTS-c levels and corresponding body composition changes. Methods: We evaluated 25 participant paired samples at baseline and post 12-weeks of exercise. Participants engaged in a 12-week exercise program, 3 times a week for 90 minutes/session. At baseline and post 12-weeks, participants underwent a DXA scan, body composition analysis, and a blood draw. The blood samples were analyzed using an in-house ELISA and compared to various clinical and body composition metrics. Results: The median age was lowest for the high responders (56.7 years) compared to moderate responders (57 years) and reduced MOTS-c (61.5 years). We found 3 distinct groups: reduced MOTS-c with exercise (n=8), increased MOTS-c moderate responders (0-10pg/ml; n=2), and increased MOTS-c high responders (>10 pg/ml; n=15). MOTS-c had an inverse relationship with almost all tested metrics including: age, weight, BMI, waist to hip ratio, body composition—visceral (fat area, fat mass, fat volume), subcutaneous fat mass, whole body (body lean, body mass, body percent fat, bone mineral content (BMC), and bone mineral density (BMD). Although the majority of the metrics improved and had inverse relationships for MOTS-c, the reduced MOTS-c group had increased BMC and BMD. Interestingly, despite a higher MOTS-c value, there was an increase in visceral fat as well as an increase in whole body fat across all groups. Of the 25 participants, 22 were Asian, two were Caucasian, and one was Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. Given the small number of participants, there does not appear to be any correlation between MOTS-c and ethnicity in our study. Summary: We found significant changes in MOTS-c according to clinical and body composition metrics after a 12-week exercise program. The findings in this study support previous findings on MOTS-c metrics including MOTS-c levels decreasing with age. However, there are few clinical trials evaluating MOTS-c in cancer survivors. MOTS-c is a potential biomarker related to exercise in cancer survivors. Our study was predominantly conducted in Asian women where there is limited data. This emphasizes the need for more clinical trials to be conducted with racially/ethnically diverse populations to better understand MOTS-c’s role in our varied cancer populations. Citation Format: Chloe Shen, Kirsten Baron, Matthew Toyama, Pinchas Cohen, Junxiang Wan, Hiroshi Kumagai, Ian Pagano, Paulette Yamada, Cheri Teranishi-Hashimoto, Jami Fukui. Effects of a 12 Week Breast Cancer Exercise Program on the Mitochondrial Derived Peptide MOTS-c [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-11-09.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that breast cancer survivors commonly experience a decrease in quality of life including an increased risk of depression, insomnia, cancer-related fatigue, and negative body image. Several studies have shown that exercise interventions, such as yoga, Pilates, water aerobics, and strengthening exercises, can improve survivors’ quality of life. We implemented a 12-week exercise program in breast cancer survivors and evaluated body composition and quality of life changes. Here we discuss our findings evaluating 5 quality of life questionnaires. Methods: We evaluated 22 participants who completed a baseline and post 12-week questionnaire assessments. All participants underwent a 12-week exercise program 3 times/week for 90 minutes/session. We calculated differences in baseline and post 12-week quality of life through 5 questionnaires: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G), Social Support, Insomnia Severity Index, Brief Fatigue Inventory, and Body Image after Breast Cancer (BIBCQ) and assessed the intervention’s efficacy by comparing the baseline and post 12-week scores using paired t-tests. Results: The difference between baseline and post 12-week quality of life are presented in Table 1. 7/13 questionnaires showed statistical significance: FACT-G Emotional, FACT-G Functional, Insomnia Severity Index, BIBCQ Vulnerability Scale (VS), BIBCQ Body Stigma Scale (BSS), BIBCQ Limitation Scale (LS), and BIBCQ Body Concern Scale (BCS). Interestingly, 4/6 of the BIBCQ questionnaires showed statistical significance: BIBCQ VS, BIBCQ BSS, BIBCQ LS, and BIBCQ BCS. Summary: Our study showed improvement in all metrics evaluated in breast cancer survivors who underwent the personalized exercise program. Specifically, multiple questionnaires including body image were improved with exercise which further exemplifies the impact of lifestyle changes on quality of life measures and is an important adjunct to future cancer survivorship studies. Table 1. Summary of questionnaires with overall significant improvements. Citation Format: Lauren Imai, Kirsten Baron, Matthew Toyama, Ian Pagano, Paulette Yamada, Cheri Teranishi-Hashimoto, Jami Fukui. Effects of a 12-Week Exercise Program on Breast Cancer Survivors’ Quality of Life [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-05-30.

Background Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic respiratory condition with a poor prognosis and significant symptom burden, yet has traditionally been managed purely by respiratory physicians. It was the experience in the Greater Manchester town of Wigan that many patients with pulmonary fibrosis were not recognised to be in the last year of life and often presented to and ultimately died in hospital during their final illness. There were missed opportunities for improving symptom control, advance care planning (ACP) and achievement of preferred place of death (PPD). Methods A new service was established where a Palliative Medicine Consultant and clinical nurse specialist reviewed patients in a dedicated clinic running alongside the respiratory clinic. The monthly face to face clinic was complemented with a fortnightly telephone follow up clinic in-between. Symptom issues were addressed guided by Integrated Palliative care Outcome Scale (IPOS) completion, hand-held fans given out to help manage breathlessness, referrals considered to the local AHP-run palliative care out-patient centre and ACP and PPD discussed and recorded. Results Since December 2017, to date 36 patients with Pulmonary Fibrosis have been referred to the clinic. Three patients died prior to review. Of the 33 who have been assessed, 9 remain under active follow-up, 6 have been discharged to community palliative care services, 1 back to GP and 17 have died. Advance care planning was initiated in 26 patients (79%) and completed in 18 (55%). Of the 17 patients that died, all but two died out of hospital (88%), 11 in their own home/nursing home and 4 in hospice, significantly greater than national averages for non-malignant conditions. Conclusion The development of a hospital-based dedicated palliative medicine clinic for patients with Pulmonary Fibrosis has resulted in a majority of out-of-hospital deaths for this group of patients.

Summary Purpose To evaluate the success of a programme of Advance Care Planning education for nursing homes by examining the effect on staff knowledge, Advance Care Planning practice within the home and end-of-life hospital admission rates. Method Three longitudinal questionnaires assessing staff knowledge, Advance Care Planning Practice and hospital deaths completed before and after the initiation of the Advance Care Planning education programme by homes that had completed the training and those yet to undergo the training. Results Superior Advance Care Planning knowledge was evident in those staff that had completed the training. There was an increase of 85% in the number of Advance Care Plans completed in the training homes and an overall reduction in hospital deaths of 25% for residents from training homes. Conclusion A programme of Advance Care Planning education for nursing homes is successful in improving nursing home staff knowledge, increasing Advance Care Planning practice and reducing hospital deaths.

Background The number of older frail nursing home residents is increasing in the UK. Advance Care Planning (ACP) for this population provides an opportunity to empower older people by discussing and documenting their wishes and preferences for their future care. The nursing home workforce is well placed to carry out ACP but lack confidence and training. Aim To evaluate the success of a programme of ACP training for nursing home employees. Methods Three longitudinal questionnaire surveys completed before and after the initiation of the ACP training programme by both nursing homes that had completed the training and those yet to undergo the training and the results compared to identify changes. A knowledge based questionnaire on ACP administered to staff before completing the training at baseline and repeated a number of weeks after the training. A survey of ACP practice within the nursing home completed by managers at baseline before initiation of the training programme and then again a number of weeks later. A survey of place of death of nursing home residents in a twelve month period before the initiation of the training programme and a twelve month period after commencement of the programme. Results 16 nursing homes were included in the study, 12 that had undergone the training programme and 4 that had not. Superior Advance Care Planning knowledge was evident in those staff that had completed the training. There was an increase of 85% in the number of Advance Care Plans completed in the training homes and an overall reduction in hospital deaths of 25% for residents from training homes. Conclusions A programme of Advance Care Planning training for nursing homes is successful in improving nursing home staff knowledge, increasing ACP practice and reducing hospital deaths.