title: Effects of a weight loss intervention on body mass, fitness, and inflammatory biomarkers in overweight or obese breast cancer survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is characterized by chronic mild inflammation and may influence the risk and progression of cancer.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The current study is an exploratory analysis of the effect of a weight loss intervention that emphasized increased physical activity on inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], interleukin-6 [IL-6], interleukin-8 [IL-8], and vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]) at the end of the 16-week intervention period in overweight breast cancer survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study participants averaged 56 years of age (N=68). Intervention participants (n=44 vs. 24 controls) participated in a cognitive behavioral therapy-based weight management program as part of an exploratory randomized trial. The intervention incorporated strategies to promote increased physical activity and diet modification. Baseline and 16-week data included height, weight, body composition, physical activity level, and biomarkers IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and VEGF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Weight loss was significantly greater in the intervention group than controls (-5.7 [3.5] vs. 0.2 [4.1] kg, P<0.001). Paired t tests noted favorable changes in physical activity level (P<0.001 intervention, P=0.70 control), marginally lower IL-6 levels (P=0.06 intervention, P=0.25 control) at 16 weeks for participants in the intervention group, and lower TNF-α levels for participants in the intervention (P<0.05) and control groups (P<0.001). Increased physical activity was associated with favorable changes in IL-6 for participants in the intervention group (R(2) =0.18; P<0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Favorable changes in cytokine levels were observed in association with weight loss in this exploratory study with overweight breast cancer survivors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Moores UCSD Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. MC 0901, La Jolla, CA 92093-0901, USA. bpakiz@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Bilgé
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pakiz
authors.forename: Shirley W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Flatt
authors.forename: Wayne A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Bardwell
authors.forename: Cheryl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Rock
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Mills
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D002140:California; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017741:Survivors; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers