Current evidence suggests that sensitive and specific biomarkers will be available to be used for the assessment and management of symptoms. The aims of the study; to explore the existing research evidence pertaining to biomarkers’/genes’ investigation within breast cancer symptom science, and to identify biomarkers to be targeted in future symptom research intervention among breast cancer patients.
Search terms for this systematic review, included “biomarker*, biological marker*, genetics, genomics, genes, genotype, phenotype, AND oncology, cancer, neoplasm, AND sign*, symptom*, quality of life, cognitive functions/performance or cognitive impairment, sleep disturbances, impaired sleep/insomnia, fatique, pain, GI distress, nausea, vomiting, appetite changes, weight loss, neuropathy, xerostomia and mouth ulcers, neuropathy, skin and nail changes, dyspnea, depression, anxiety”. A comprehensive multistep search of CINAHL (160), Cochrane (41), OVID (18), PsycInfo (59), Pubmed (773), Web of Science (527) for identified articles to include in February 2019. Total 1573 articles found and after discarding the duplicates, 1301 articles were checked by title then abstract. A sample of 114 primary research articles were remained for full text review. Total 55 articles met the inclusion criteria in the review.
Twenty-three articles in different cancer types including breast cancer and 32 articles including only breast cancer patients were reviewed in details. The reference lists of these articles will be checked to find additional studies for scoping reviews. These studies were summarized using the following pre-specified evaluation criteria: the aim of study, major findings; genes and associated polymorphisms investigated, sample characteristics (i.e., size, setting, age); symptom’s assessment (i.e., timing). Symptoms investigated are sleep disturbances, anxiety, cognitive function (attentional function, memory complaints), peripheral neuropathy- neurotoxicity, depressive symptoms, fatigue- energy level, nausea-vomiting, pain (cancer pain, breast pain), quality of life, secondary lymphedema.
In future, candidate genes may be targeted to describe mechanisms of symptoms or symptoms clusters for potential precision treatments and effective symptom management strategies.
The authors.
Has not received any funding.
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.