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Physical Activity and Differential Methylation of Breast Cancer Genes Assayed from Saliva: A Preliminary Investigation

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Individuals who exercise are at lower risk for breast cancer and have better post-diagnosis outcomes. The biological mechanisms behind this association are unclear, but DNA methylation has been suggested.

Methods

We developed a composite measure of DNA methylation across 45 CpG sites on genes selected a priori. We examined the association of this measure to self-reported physical activity and objectively measured cardiovascular fitness in a sample of healthy nonsmoking adults (n = 64) in an exercise promotion intervention.

Results

Individuals who were more physically fit and who exercised more minutes per week had lower levels of DNA methylation. Those who increased their minutes of physical activity over 12 months experienced decreases in DNA methylation.

Conclusions

DNA methylation may be a mechanism linking exercise and cancer incidence and could serve as a biomarker for behavioral intervention trials. Studies with larger samples, objectively measured exercise, and more cancer-related markers are needed.

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Conflict of Interest

None of the authors have any conflicts of interest related to this work.

Funding

This research was supported by a grant from the National Cancer Institute (CA RO1 CA109858) to the first author, a grant from the National Center for Research Resources (M01-RR00051) to the University of Colorado Boulder, and research funds provided to the first and last authors by the University of New Mexico and the Mind Research Network, both in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, UCB 345, Boulder, CO, 80309-0345, USA

    Angela D. Bryan Ph.D., Nicole Harlaar Ph.D. & Kent E. Hutchison Ph.D.

  2. University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    Angela D. Bryan Ph.D. & Ann E. Caldwell Hooper M.A.

  3. Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    Angela D. Bryan Ph.D. & Kent E. Hutchison Ph.D.

  4. Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver, WA, USA

    Renee E. Magnan Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Angela D. Bryan Ph.D.
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  2. Renee E. Magnan Ph.D.
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  3. Ann E. Caldwell Hooper M.A.
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  4. Nicole Harlaar Ph.D.
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  5. Kent E. Hutchison Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Angela D. Bryan Ph.D..

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Bryan, A.D., Magnan, R.E., Hooper, A.E.C. et al. Physical Activity and Differential Methylation of Breast Cancer Genes Assayed from Saliva: A Preliminary Investigation. ann. behav. med. 45, 89–98 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-012-9411-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-012-9411-4

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