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Radiotherapy-related fatigue may result from inflammation
Source: (cancerfacts.com
Thursday, August 20, 2009
PHILADELPHIA – Aug. 20, 2009 – Patients who experience fatigue during radiotherapy for breast or prostate cancer may be reacting to activation of the network of cells and proteins, called cytokines, involved in producing an inflammatory response, say researchers.
Led by Dr. Julie Bower, an associate professor in the Department of Psychology and Psychiatry at UCLA, the researchers conducted a study of 28 patients with breast cancer and 20 patients with prostate cancer. All participants had early stage cancers. Patients completed questionnaires and provided blood samples so researchers could determine the level of blood components markers of inflammation. Their study is reported in the Aug. 15 issue of Clinical Cancer Research.
"This study suggests that exposure to radiation is releasing these inflammatory cytokines and that may be contributing to fatigue," said Bower in a prepared statement.
As expected, there was a strong link between radiotherapy treatment and fatigue. In a new finding, however, the researchers noted that increases in serum markers of cytokine activity involved in an immune response were also linked with fatigue.
Scientists have been studying the role of inflammation in several diseases and have recently made breakthroughs about the link between inflammation and diseases like heart disease, Alzheimer's and cancer. There is growing evidence that inflammation may also contribute to depression and other behavioral disturbances, including fatigue and sleep problems.
Dr. Stephen Hahn, chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania, said this study is an important step forward in understanding the biological basis for fatigue.
"Fatigue related to radiotherapy is very common but we do not have any good idea about why it occurs. This suggests one possible mechanism and suggests an avenue for treatment," said Hahn, who is also an editorial board member of Clinical Cancer Research.
SOURCE: adapted from press materials provided by the American Association for Cancer Research.
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