Abstract P2-05-09: Mindfulness as effective complementary therapy in the management of Breast Cancer (BC)

Abstract Background: Breast cancer associates a broad variety of psychological and physical symptoms with a significant impact on quality of life. Mindfulness therapies (MBIs), such as MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) and MBCT (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy) have been related with better control of this daily routine signs, achieving better emotional regulation, decreasing internal dialogue, increasing awareness of body sensations (posture, breathing...) and slowing down of mental processes. Mindfulness is a psychological technique that tries to reach a state of full consciousness. It is useful on the treatment and prevention of several diseases by different mechanisms. The brain areas linked to MBIs are: the insular cortex, related to body and emotional awareness; the hippocampus, involved in memory organization; the secondary somatosensory cortex and anterior cingulate, related to pain and the bilateral superior parietal lobe and left superior frontal gyrus, involved in attention. MBI is also related with an increase in telomeric length, increased expression of the hTERT (human telomerase reverse transcriptase) and HTR (human telomerase RNA) genes and a decrease in the level of methylation of the hTERT promoter regions (implying increased gene expression). These changes have potential effect to delay cellular aging. There is a relationship between long-term meditation practice and a loss of methylation of CpG nucleotides and epigenetic changes in the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and beta neurotrophic factor (NF-κß) signaling pathway. PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to compile the effects of different mindfulness therapies on the symptoms associated with breast cancer, both in women with active disease and in survivors. Methods: a systematic review was conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane library and Web of Science. Thirteen studies, published in the last seven years (between January 1st, 2017 and December 31st, 2023), were included: 10 on patients with “active disease” and 3 on “survivors”. Results: MBIs produce statistically and significant benefits in the short and medium term, on depressive symptoms, anxiety and stress. Among physical symptoms, a significant effect is seen about the reduction of fatigue with MBSR therapies. Other symptoms such as cognitive function and sleep quality also improve with these therapies. Regarding quality of life, only short-term improvements are been observed. MBCT protocols are included in few works. Its role in BC survivors is limited because the low number of researches and the lack of a homogeneous definition of “survivor”. Conclusion: Because of the benefit that mindfulness therapies (MBIs) (specially MBSR and MBCT) have on anxiety, stress, depressive symptoms, fatigue and other symptoms associated with breast cancer, it is proposed to use it as a complementary therapy in the management of these patients. Citation Format: Maria-Eva Perez-Lopez, Iria Fernandez-Somme, Cristina Reboredo, Beatriz Alonso, Silvia Antolin, Patricia Cordeiro, Lourdes Calvo. Mindfulness as effective complementary therapy in the management of Breast Cancer (BC) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2024; 2024 Dec 10-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2025;31(12 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-05-09.