Abstract PS1-02-26: Effectiveness of mindfulness on quality of life in women breast cancer survivors: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract Introduction: The rising incidence of breast cancer, alongside decreased mortality rates and therapeutic advances, has led to an increasing population of breast cancer survivors. These individuals are susceptible to acute and chronic psychological distress. Mindfulness-based interventions have been proposed as integrative strategies to support mental health and well-being in this population. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness practices compared to standard care in improving the quality of life among women surviving breast cancer. Methods: A systematic review was conducted including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving women aged ≥18 years who had undergone treatment for breast cancer (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or a combination), at any clinical stage, without psychiatric disorders, no prior mindfulness practice, and that assessed quality of life as a primary or secondary outcome. Studies not meeting these criteria were excluded. A comprehensive literature search was performed without language or date restrictions across PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, SciELO, LILACS, Cochrane Library, WHO, and grey literature sources (Google Scholar, OpenGrey, ProQuest, and direct contact with field experts). Risk of bias was assessed using the RoB 2 tool. Standardized mean differences (SMD) were calculated for pooled effect estimates using R software. The certainty of evidence was evaluated using the GRADE framework. Results: Thirteen RCTs met inclusion criteria, comprising a total of 1,942 breast cancer survivors, of whom 1,016 received mindfulness interventions and 926 received standard care. Risk of bias was considered low across the included studies. Meta-analysis revealed that mindfulness practices resulted in a small but statistically significant improvement in quality of life (SMD = 0.33; 95%CI: 0.16 to 0.49). However, the certainty of evidence was rated as low due to moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 65.9%), high risk of publication bias (funnel plot asymmetry and Egger’s test), and serious imprecision (confidence interval spanning trivial to small effect sizes). Discussion: Key limitations of this review include study heterogeneity, the predominance of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) as the primary intervention, limited representation of patients with metastatic disease, and possibly attenuated effects in those with early-stage tumors due to less intensive treatment regimens. Despite these limitations, mindfulness practices demonstrated potential benefits in enhancing quality of life and, due to their socioeconomic accessibility, may warrant clinical recommendation as part of survivorship care in breast cancer patients. Funding and Registration: This study did not receive external funding. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024502665) on January 26, 2024. Citation Format: P. Amaral, G. Tosello, P. Silva Filho, E. Nahas, D. Buttros. Effectiveness of mindfulness on quality of life in women breast cancer survivors: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2025; 2025 Dec 9-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2026;32(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS1-02-26.