Prediction of Breast Cancer Treatment-Induced Fatigue by Machine Learning Using Genome-Wide Association Data

We aimed at predicting fatigue after breast cancer treatment using machine learning on clinical covariates and germline genome-wide data.

We accessed germline genome-wide data of 2799 early-stage breast cancer patients from the Cancer Toxicity study (NCT01993498). The primary endpoint was defined as scoring zero at diagnosis and higher than quartile 3 at 1 year after primary treatment completion on European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality-of-life questionnaires for Overall Fatigue and on the multidimensional questionnaire for Physical, Emotional, and Cognitive fatigue. First, we tested univariate associations of each endpoint with clinical variables and genome-wide variants. Then, using preselected clinical (false discovery rate < 0.05) and genomic (P < .001) variables, a multivariable preconditioned random-forest regression model was built and validated on a hold-out subset to predict fatigue. Gene set enrichment analysis identified key biological correlates (MetaCore). All statistical tests were 2-sided.

Statistically significant clinical associations were found only with Emotional and Cognitive Fatigue, including receipt of chemotherapy, anxiety, and pain. Some single nucleotide polymorphisms had some degree of association (P < .001) with the different fatigue endpoints, although there were no genome-wide statistically significant (P < 5.00 × 10^-8) associations. Only for Cognitive Fatigue, the predictive ability of the genomic multivariable model was statistically significantly better than random (area under the curve = 0.59, P = .01) and marginally improved with clinical variables (area under the curve = 0.60, P = .005). Single nucleotide polymorphisms found to be associated (P < .001) with Cognitive Fatigue belonged to genes linked to inflammation (false discovery rate adjusted P = .03), cognitive disorders (P = 1.51 × 10^-12), and synaptic transmission (P = 6.28 × 10^-8).

Genomic analyses in this large cohort of breast cancer survivors suggest a possible genetic role for severe Cognitive Fatigue that warrants further exploration.