Influence of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on telomerase activity in women with breast cancer (BC)

Abstract

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) reduces symptoms of depression, anxiety, and fear of recurrence among breast cancer (BC) survivors. However, the effects of MBSR (BC) on telomere length (TL) and telomerase activity (TA), known markers of cellular aging, psychological stress, and disease risk, are not known. This randomized, wait-listed, controlled study, nested within a larger trial, investigated the effects of MBSR (BC) on TL and TA. BC patients (142) with Stages 0-III cancer who had completed adjuvant treatment with radiation and/or chemotherapy at least 2 weeks prior to enrollment and within 2 years of completion of treatment with lumpectomy and/or mastectomy were randomly assigned to either a 6-week MBSR for BC program or a usual care. Assessments of TA and TL were obtained along with psychological measurements at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks after completing the MBSR(BC) program. The mean age of 142 participants was 55.3 years; 72% were non-Hispanic White; 78% had Stage I or II cancer; and 36% received both chemotherapy and radiation. In analyses adjusted for baseline TA and psychological status, TA increased steadily over 12 weeks in the MBSR(BC) group (approximately 17%) compared to essentially no increase in the control group (approximately 3%, p < .01). In contrast, no between-group difference was observed for TL (p = .92). These results provide preliminary evidence that MBSR(BC) increases TA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from BC patients and have implications for understanding how MBSR(BC) may extend cell longevity at the cellular level.

Keywords: MBSR(BC); breast cancer; mindfulness based stress reduction; stress; telomerase activity; telomere length.

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

© The Author(s) 2014.

Figures

Figure 1

CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) flow diagram of participant recruitment, screening, and enrollment from parent R01 trial to study subset.

Figure 2

Mean change from baseline in log-transformed telomere length (with standard error of the mean) among breast cancer survivors randomized to the mindfulness-based stress reduction [MBSR(BC)] or the UC group. Baseline measures were taken before the start of the intervention, week 6 measures at the end of the intervention, and week 12 follow-up measures 6 weeks after the end of the intervention.

Figure 3

Mean change from baseline in log-transformed telomerase activity (with standard error of the mean) among breast cancer survivors randomized to the mindfulness-based stress reduction for breast cancer [MBSR(BC)] or UC groups. A linear mixed model indicated a greater slope (increase) in TA for the MBSR(BC) group compared to UC (p < .01). Baseline measures were taken before the start of the intervention, week 6 measures at the end of the intervention, and week 12 follow-up measures 6 weeks after the end of the intervention.