Model-Based Patterns of Lymphedema Symptomatology: Phenotypic and Biomarker Characterization

This study aimed to identify lymphedema symptom patterns and the association of such patterns with phenotypic characteristics and biomarkers using latent class analysis (LCA). A prospective, descriptive, and repeated-measure design was used to enroll 140 women and collect data.Recent FindingsLCA identified three distinct lymphedema symptom classes at 8  weeks and 12 months post-surgery: low, moderate, and severe symptom classes and associated phenotypic characteristics. Participants were more likely to be in the severe symptom classes at 12 months post-surgery if they had lower education level, cording, an axillary syndrome at 8 weeks post-sur gery, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and radiation.SummaryPre-surgery level of IL1-a, IL-6, IL-8, and VEGF was associated with the severe symptom class at 8  weeks post-surgery, suggesting that such biomarkers may be used to predict risk for lymphedema symptoms.
Source: Current Breast Cancer Reports - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research