title: Association of Telomere Length with Breast Cancer Prognostic Factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Telomere length, a marker of cell aging, seems to be affected by the same factors thought to be associated with breast cancer prognosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine associations of peripheral blood cell-measured telomere length with traditional and potential prognostic factors in breast cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data collected before surgery from 162 breast cancer patients recruited consecutively between 01/2011 and 05/2012, at a breast cancer reference center. Data on the main lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity) were collected using standardized questionnaires. Anthropometric factors were measured. Tumor biological characteristics were extracted from pathology reports. Telomere length was measured using a highly reproducible quantitative PCR method in peripheral white blood cells. Spearman partial rank-order correlations and multivariate general linear models were used to evaluate relationships between telomere length and prognostic factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Telomere length was positively associated with total physical activity (rs = 0.17, P = 0.033; Ptrend = 0.069), occupational physical activity (rs = 0.15, P = 0.054; Ptrend = 0.054) and transportation-related physical activity (rs = 0.19, P = 0.019; P = 0.005). Among post-menopausal women, telomere length remained positively associated with total physical activity (rs = 0.27, P = 0.016; Ptrend = 0.054) and occupational physical activity (rs = 0.26, P = 0.021; Ptrend = 0.056) and was only associated with transportation-related physical activity among pre-menopausal women (rs = 0.27, P = 0.015; P = 0.004). No association was observed between telomere length and recreational or household activities, other lifestyle factors or traditional prognostic factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Telomeres are longer in more active breast cancer patients. Since white blood cells are involved in anticancer immune responses, these findings suggest that even regular low-intensity physical activity, such as that related to transportation or occupation, could be recommended to breast cancer patients.
authors: Axe Oncologie, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec city (QC), Canada.|Centre de Recherche sur le Cancer, Université Laval, Quebec city (QC), Canada.|Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Quebec city (QC), Canada.
authors: Kaoutar
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0962-2020
authors: K
authors: Ennour-Idrissi
authors: Axe Oncologie, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec city (QC), Canada.|Centre de Recherche sur le Cancer, Université Laval, Quebec city (QC), Canada.|Département de biologie moléculaire, biochimie médicale et pathologie, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Quebec city (QC), Canada.|Centre des Maladies du Sein Deschênes-Fabia, Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, Quebec city (QC), Canada.
authors: Bernard
authors: B
authors: Têtu
authors: Axe Oncologie, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec city (QC), Canada.|Centre de Recherche sur le Cancer, Université Laval, Quebec city (QC), Canada.|Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Quebec city (QC), Canada.|Centre des Maladies du Sein Deschênes-Fabia, Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, Quebec city (QC), Canada.
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Maunsell
authors: Axe Oncologie, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec city (QC), Canada.|Centre de Recherche sur le Cancer, Université Laval, Quebec city (QC), Canada.|Centre des Maladies du Sein Deschênes-Fabia, Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, Quebec city (QC), Canada.|Department de chirurgie, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Quebec city (QC), Canada.
authors: Brigitte
authors: B
authors: Poirier
authors: Axe Médecine Régénératrice, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec city (QC), Canada.
authors: Alicia
authors: A
authors: Montoni
authors: Axe Médecine Régénératrice, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec city (QC), Canada.
authors: Patrick J
authors: PJ
authors: Rochette
authors: Axe Oncologie, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec city (QC), Canada.|Centre de Recherche sur le Cancer, Université Laval, Quebec city (QC), Canada.|Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Quebec city (QC), Canada.|Centre des Maladies du Sein Deschênes-Fabia, Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, Quebec city (QC), Canada.
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Diorio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics*