title: Association between serotonin transport polymorphisms and postdischarge nausea and vomiting in women following breast cancer surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the association of the serotonin transport gene and postdischarge nausea and vomiting (PDNV) in women following breast cancer surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive cancer center in Pittsburgh, PA.
  
  
  METHODS
  80 post-menopausal women treated surgically for early-stage breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected using standardized instruments after surgery but before the initiation of chemotherapy. Blood or saliva were used for DNA extraction and analyzed following standardized protocols. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serotonin transport gene (SLC6A4), nausea, vomiting, pain, and anxiety.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women who inherited the LA/LA genotypes were at greater risk for nausea and vomiting when compared to women who carried any other combination of genotypes. Twenty-one percent of women reported nausea and vomiting an average of one month following surgery and prior to initiation of adjuvant therapy. Those women who experienced PDNV reported significantly higher anxiety and pain scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings of this study suggest that variability in the genotypes of the serotonin transport gene may help to explain the variability in PDNV in women following breast cancer surgery and why 20%-30% of patients do not respond to antiemetic medications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses need to be aware that women who do not experience postoperative nausea and vomiting following surgery for breast cancer continue to be at risk for PDNV long after they have been discharged from the hospital, and this frequently is accompanied by pain and anxiety.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Susan W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Wesmiller
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and the Department of Clinical Translational Science, University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bender
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Translational Science, and the Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sereika
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Gretchen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ahrendt
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Marguerite
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonaventura
authors.affiliation: Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Dana H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Bovbjerg
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Yvette
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Conley
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000235:genetics / Q000451:nursing; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000451:nursing / Q000601:surgery*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000235:genetics / Q000451:nursing; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D017698:Postmenopause; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000451:nursing; D012044:Regression Analysis; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
keywords: breast cancer; genetics; nausea/vomiting