About 30 percent of women successfully treated for breast cancer suffer persistent fatigue of unknown origin. Earlier studies have found elevated levels of several inflammatory markers in circulating blood among breast cancer survivors experiencing fatigue.
To identify the immunologic basis for these elevations, Julienne E. Bower, a researcher at UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center and an assistant professor at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute's Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, and colleagues examined cellular immune system status in 20 fatigued breast cancer survivors and 19 matched non-fatigued breast cancer survivors.
Fatigued survivors, compared with non-fatigued survivors, had statistically significantly increased numbers of circulating T lymphocytes, with pronounced elevation in the numbers of CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD56+ effector T lymphocytes.
These changes were independent of patient demographic and treatment characteristics. The increased numbers of circulating T cells correlated with elevations in the level of serum interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (a marker of inflammation). The authors note that these results require confirmation in a larger study.
The UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute is an interdisciplinary research and education institute devoted to the understanding of complex human behavior, including the genetic, biological, behavioral and sociocultural underpinnings of normal behavior, and the causes and consequences of neuropsychiatric disorders. In addition to conducting fundamental research, the institute faculty seeks to develop effective treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders, improve access to mental health services and shape national health policy regarding neuropsychiatric disorders.
UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center is composed of more than 240 cancer researchers and clinicians engaged in cancer research, prevention, detection, control and education. The center, one of the nation's largest comprehensive cancer centers, is dedicated to promoting cancer research and applying the results to clinical situations.
Online resources:
- UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute: www.npi.ucla.edu
- Cousin's Center for Psychoneuroimmunology: www.cousinspni.org/
- UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center: www.cancer.mednet.ucla.edu
Journal
JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute