# Influence of Social Determinants of Health and Epigenomics on Psychological Symptom Cluster Severity

> **NIH NIH K99** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2024 · $161,556

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The psychological symptom cluster is a common problem that impacts women receiving breast cancer
treatment and is associated with several negative outcomes, including reduced functional status and quality of
life. Unfortunately, the mechanism(s) that underlie this cluster are unknown which limits the development of
targeted interventions. Mounting evidence suggests that individual (e.g., age, education) and community-level
determinants of health (e.g., neighborhood deprivation, pollution) increase psychological symptoms in women
with breast cancer. While exercise can improve psychological symptoms in women with breast cancer, it is
unknown if individual or community-level factors impact this relationship. Given that exercise, individual, and
community-level factors can alter DNA methylation, evaluation of epigenetic regulation may provide new
mechanistic insights. Investigation into the epigenomic, individual, and community-level factors associated with
a psychological symptom cluster in women with breast cancer within the context of a randomized clinical trial
for a moderate-intensity aerobic exercise intervention will clarify these relationships and inform the
development of targeted interventions. The overarching goal of this research is to alleviate symptoms in cancer
patients, which is a research priority of the NCI’s Division of Cancer Prevention. The aims of the K99 study are
to (1) test the hypotheses that epigenomic, individual, and community-level factors are associated with
psychological symptom cluster severity profiles in women with breast cancer prior to the start of aromatase
inhibitor therapy; and (2) test the hypotheses that epigenomic, individual, and community-level factors are
associated with worsening psychological symptom cluster severity profiles following six months of aromatase
inhibitor therapy in women with breast cancer, while exercise and epigenomic factors mitigate this effect. The
candidate will extend this line of research to immunotherapy, which is rapidly emerging as an adjuvant therapy
for breast cancer. The detailed training plan, exceptional team of mentors, and research-intensive environment
of the University of Pittsburgh will provide the candidate with the mentored training, support, and research
experience needed to conduct this research. Through this training plan, the candidate will develop: proficiency
in epigenomics; competency in analysis and bioinformatics of longitudinal epigenomic data; proficiency in the
evaluation of social determinants of health in symptom science; expertise in the mechanisms of
immunotherapy-related symptoms; and knowledge and skills for professional career development. The aims of
the R00 study are to: (1) identify symptom cluster profiles of women with breast cancer receiving
immunotherapy over time; and (2) evaluate for epigenomic, individual, interpersonal, community, and societal-
level factors associated with symptom cluster severity profiles of w...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10796317
- **Project number:** 1K99CA286967-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Carolyn Stigge Harris
- **Activity code:** K99 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $161,556
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-02-01 → 2026-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10796317

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10796317, Influence of Social Determinants of Health and Epigenomics on Psychological Symptom Cluster Severity (1K99CA286967-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-03 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10796317. Licensed CC0.

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