Cardiorespiratory fitness, adiposity, and metabolic risk in breast cancer survivors: links with circulating WISP-1 and WISP-3
8 affiliations
- 1National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center Goyang 10408 Korea
- 2National Cancer Center Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center Goyang 10408 Korea
- 3Exercise Medicine and Salutogenesis Center, Institute of Convergence Science (ICONS), Yonsei University Seoul 03722 Korea
- 4Department of Physical Education, Seoul National University of Education Seoul 06639 Korea
- 5Division of Biological Science and Technology, Yonsei University Wonju 26493 Korea
- 6Department of Convergence Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine Wonju 26426 Korea
- 7Kinesiology, Faculty of Natural Science, The King’s University, Edmonton, AB T6B 2H3 Canada
- 8Yonsei Institute of Sports Science and Exercise Medicine Wonju 26426 Korea
Abstract
Breast cancer survivors (BCS) often exhibit persistent metabolic and hepatic disturbances after cancer treatment; however, cardiorespiratory fitness’s (CRF) underlying molecular signatures and associations of CRF with metabolic and hepatic health remain insufficiently understood. We examined whether circulating metabolic markers and WNT1-inducible signaling pathway proteins (WISPs) differ between BCS and matched controls, as well as whether CRF relates to metabolic and hepatic risk within BCS. To this end, 40 BCS and 40 age- and weight-matched healthy controls underwent assessment vis-à-vis anthropometrics, fasting metabolic biomarkers, liver enzymes, and fatty liver index (FLI). CRF was estimated using a standardized step test. Circulating WISP-1 and WISP-3 were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Compared with controls, BCS exhibited lower CRF and higher body fat percentage, fasting insulin, insulin resistance, liver enzyme levels, and FLI. Circulating WISP-1 was higher in BCS, even after adjusting for age, menopausal status, and body fat percentage (adjusted ratio 1.23, 95% CI 1.01–1.52; p < 0.05). Differences in insulin resistance and hepatic risk were attenuated after adjustment, while the between-group difference in WISP-3 was not significant after covariate adjustment. Among BCS, higher CRF was associated with lower insulin resistance, reduced hepatic risk, and lower prevalence of FLI > 30 (57.9% vs. 20.0%, p < 0.05) and metabolic syndrome (57.9% vs. 5.0%, p < 0.001), while WISP concentrations did not differ by CRF. BCS demonstrated persistent metabolic vulnerability and elevated circulating WISP-1, regardless of adiposity and menopausal status. The findings show that higher CRF was associated with lower metabolic and hepatic risks.
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BibTeX
@article{min2026cardiorespiratory,
title = {{Cardiorespiratory fitness, adiposity, and metabolic risk in breast cancer survivors: links with circulating WISP-1 and WISP-3}},
author = {Jihee Min and Minsuk Oh and Eunha Chang and Ji Yeong Choi and Ki-Yong An and In Deok Kong},
journal = {The Korean Journal of Physiology \& Pharmacology : Official Journal of the Korean Physiological Society and the Korean Society of Pharmacology},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.4196/kjpp.26.092},
url = {https://doi.org/10.4196/kjpp.26.092},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Cardiorespiratory fitness, adiposity, and metabolic risk in breast cancer survivors: links with circulating WISP-1 and WISP-3
AU - Jihee Min
AU - Minsuk Oh
AU - Eunha Chang
AU - Ji Yeong Choi
AU - Ki-Yong An
AU - In Deok Kong
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/01
JO - The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology : Official Journal of the Korean Physiological Society and the Korean Society of Pharmacology
DO - 10.4196/kjpp.26.092
UR - https://doi.org/10.4196/kjpp.26.092
AB - Breast cancer survivors (BCS) often exhibit persistent metabolic and hepatic disturbances after cancer treatment; however, cardiorespiratory fitness’s (CRF) underlying molecular signatures and associations of CRF with metabolic and hepatic health remain insufficiently understood. We examined whether circulating metabolic markers and WNT1-inducible signaling pathway proteins (WISPs) differ between BCS and matched controls, as well as whether CRF relates to metabolic and hepatic risk within BCS. To this end, 40 BCS and 40 age- and weight-matched healthy controls underwent assessment vis-à-vis anthropometrics, fasting metabolic biomarkers, liver enzymes, and fatty liver index (FLI). CRF was estimated using a standardized step test. Circulating WISP-1 and WISP-3 were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Compared with controls, BCS exhibited lower CRF and higher body fat percentage, fasting insulin, insulin resistance, liver enzyme levels, and FLI. Circulating WISP-1 was higher in BCS, even after adjusting for age, menopausal status, and body fat percentage (adjusted ratio 1.23, 95% CI 1.01–1.52; p < 0.05). Differences in insulin resistance and hepatic risk were attenuated after adjustment, while the between-group difference in WISP-3 was not significant after covariate adjustment. Among BCS, higher CRF was associated with lower insulin resistance, reduced hepatic risk, and lower prevalence of FLI > 30 (57.9% vs. 20.0%, p < 0.05) and metabolic syndrome (57.9% vs. 5.0%, p < 0.001), while WISP concentrations did not differ by CRF. BCS demonstrated persistent metabolic vulnerability and elevated circulating WISP-1, regardless of adiposity and menopausal status. The findings show that higher CRF was associated with lower metabolic and hepatic risks.
SN - 1226-4512
SN - 2093-3827
ER -