Physical Activity and Telomere Length in Early

Physical Activity and Telomere Length in Early Stage Breast Cancer Survivors

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The journal article focuses on the relationship between human physical activity and telomere length in early stage breast cancer survivors. Telomere as the article illustrates is a biomarker for both cellular damage and aging within individuals with breast cancer. Evidence suggests that TL in those without breast cancer is impacted by a host of psychosocial and lifestyle factors, including physical activity.

The journal begins with a brief overview of Telomere and its implications for breast cancer survivors. Telomere is a repetitive nucleoprotein structures on the end of chromosomes with the main purposes of maintaining cellular stability. Telomere also protects cells from uncontrollable cellular division. The article note that cell division is generally good for the body as it helps with repair and replication, however, when conducted in an uncontrollable state, damage is done to the body. As cells divides the Telomere portion of the end of each chromosome shortens. Eventually, the telomere is completely consumed through cell division. Once the Telomere is consumed, the cell will eventually die. Many premature signs of aging, disease and cancer have been linked to shortened Telomeres within cells.

The article studies the overall physical activities of patients and how this activity impacts Telomere length. Through study and observation, the researchers believe that longer Telomere's lead to healthier patients, with lower signs of aging, and less change of recurrence. The length of Telomere is particularly important as the researchers believe that cancer recurrence is likely to be dependent on a complex interplay between cancer and biological mechanisms within the body. The research team studied 392 postmenopausal women with stage I-III breast cancer at an outpatient oncology clinic. The clinic was located at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania. Telomere length and shortening was determined using fragment length analysis of genomic DNA isolated from certain blood cells.