Title: An epigenetic aging analysis of randomized metformin and weight loss interventions in overweight postmenopausal breast cancer survivors.

Authors: Nwanaji-Enwerem, Jamaji C; Chung, Felicia Fei-Lei; Van der Laan, Lars; Novoloaca, Alexei; Cuenin, Cyrille; Johansson, Harriet; Bonanni, Bernardo; Hubbard, Alan E; Smith, Martyn T; Hartman, Sheri J; Cardenas, Andres; Sears, Dorothy D; Herceg, Zdenko

Published In Clin Epigenetics, (2021 Dec 17)

Abstract: Metformin and weight loss relationships with epigenetic age measures-biological aging biomarkers-remain understudied. We performed a post-hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial among overweight/obese breast cancer survivors (N = 192) assigned to metformin, placebo, weight loss with metformin, or weight loss with placebo interventions for 6 months. Epigenetic age was correlated with chronological age (r = 0.20-0.86; P < 0.005). However, no significant epigenetic aging associations were observed by intervention arms. Consistent with published reports in non-cancer patients, 6 months of metformin therapy may be inadequate to observe expected epigenetic age deceleration. Longer duration studies are needed to better characterize these relationships.Trial Registration: Registry Name: ClincialTrials.Gov.Registration Number: NCT01302379.Date of Registration: February 2011.URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01302379.

PubMed ID: 34920739

MeSH Terms: Aged; Aging/genetics*; Aging/physiology; Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis; Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics; Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis; Breast Neoplasms/physiopathology*; Female; Humans; Metformin/administration & dosage; Metformin/pharmacology*; Middle Aged; Overweight/epidemiology; Overweight/therapy*; Postmenopause; Survivors/statistics & numerical data; Weight Reduction Programs/methods; Weight Reduction Programs/standards; Weight Reduction Programs/statistics & numerical data