The Role of Inflammation in the Pain, Fatigue, and Sleep Disturbance Symptom Cluster in Advanced Cancer

Indirect effect of sleep on abdominal pain through daytime dysfunction in adults with irritable bowel syndrome

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Sleep deficiency, psychological distress, daytime dysfunction, and abdominal pain are common in adults with irritable bowel syndrome. Prior research on individuals with chronic pain has identified the indirect effect of sleep on pain through psychological distress or daytime dysfunction; however, this effect is less clear in irritable bowel syndrome. The purpose of this study was to examine potential indirect effects of sleep on abdominal pain symptoms simultaneously through psychological distress and daytime dysfunction in adults with irritable bowel syndrome.

METHODS

Daily symptoms of nighttime sleep complaints (sleep quality and refreshment), psychological distress, daytime dysfunction (fatigue, sleepiness, and difficulty concentrating), and abdominal pain were collected in baseline assessments from 2 randomized controlled trials of 332 adults (mean age 42 years and 85% female) with irritable bowel syndrome. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the global relationships among nighttime sleep complaints, psychological distress, daytime dysfunction, and abdominal pain.

RESULTS

The structural equation modeling analyses found a strong indirect effect of poor sleep on abdominal pain via daytime dysfunction but not psychological distress. More than 95% of the total effect of nighttime sleep complaints on abdominal pain was indirect.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that the primary impact of nighttime sleep complaints on abdominal pain is indirect. The indirect effect appears primarily through daytime dysfunction. Such understanding provides a potential avenue to optimize personalized and hybrid behavioral interventions for adults with irritable bowel syndrome through addressing daytime dysfunction and sleep behaviors. Additional study integrating symptoms with biological markers is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms accounting for these symptoms.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov. Name: Nursing Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Improving Outcomes, Nursing Management of IBS: Improving Outcomes. URLs: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00167635, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00907790. Identifiers: NCT00167635, NCT00907790.

Cynandione A and PHA-543613 inhibit inflammation and stimulate macrophageal IL-10 expression following α7 nAChR activation

Cynandione A, an acetophenone isolated from Cynanchum Wilfordii Radix, attenuates inflammation. The present study aimed to study the mechanisms underlying cynandione A-induced antiinflammation. Treatment with cynandione A and the specific α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) agonist PHA-543613 remarkably reduced overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW264.7 cells and primary peritoneal macrophages, and endotoxemic mice. Both cynandione A and PHA-543613 also stimulated IL-10 expression in naïve and LPS-treated macrophages and endotoxemic mice. Cynandione A- and PHA-543613-inhibited proinflammatory cytokine expression was completely blocked by the α7 nAChR antagonist methyllycaconitine and the IL-10 antibody. The stimulatory effect of cynandione A and PHA-543613 on IL-10 expression were suppressed by methyllycaconitine and knockdown of α7 nAChRs using siRNA/α7 nAChR. Cynandione A significantly stimulated STAT3 phosphorylation, which was attenuated by methyllycaconitine and the IL-10 neutralizing antibody. The STAT3 activation inhibitor NSC74859 also blocked cynandione A-inhibited proinflammatory cytokine expression. Taken together, our results, for the first time, demonstrate that cynandione A and PHA-543613 inhibit inflammation through macrophageal α7 nAChR activation and subsequent IL-10 expression.

Characteristics of Cancer Symptom Clusters Reported through a Patient-Centered Symptom Cluster Assessment

In the scope of symptom cluster research, few investigators have obtained patients' perceptions of their symptom clusters, even though this information is central to designing effective interventions. In this cross-sectional study, 38 adults with cancer completed measures of demographics, health outcomes (functional status, well-being, quality of life) and a symptom cluster assessment that captured symptom occurrence, severity, distress, clustering, a priority cluster, causal attributions, duration, directional relationships, and cluster interference with daily life. Participants described 72 distinct symptom clusters. Symptoms were most frequently attributed to the cancer diagnosis. Participants' priority symptom cluster typically included two symptoms of continuous duration and one intermittent symptom. Temporal order and direction of symptom relationships varied, with 75 different relationships described among symptom pairs. Greater symptom cluster burden and interference were related to poorer health outcomes. This patient-centered view of symptom clusters revealed substantial variability in symptom cluster characteristics with important implications for symptom management.

Pain Biomarkers in Cancer: An Overview

BACKGROUND

Pain is a common symptom in oncologic patients and its management is generally guided with reference to pain individually perceived by patients and expressed through self-reported scales. However, the utility of these tools is limited as it strongly depends on patients' opinions. For this reason, more objective instruments are desirable.

OBJECTIVE

In this overview, scientific articles indicating potential markers to be used for pain management in cancer were collected and discussed.

METHODS

Research was performed on principal electronic scientific databases by using the words "pain", "cancer", "markers" and "biomarkers" as the main keywords, and findings describing potential biomarkers for the management of cancer pain were reported.

RESULTS

Studies on pain markers not specific for cancer typology (inflammatory, genetic markers predicting response to analgesic drugs, neuroimaging markers) and pain markers for specific types of cancer (bone cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, prostate cancer, cancer in pediatrics) have been presented and commented on.

CONCLUSION

This overview supports the view of the involvement of inflammatory mediators in the mechanisms underlying cancer pain. Only a small amount of data from research up till today is available on markers that can help in the management of pain, except for pro-inflammatory cytokines and other inflammatory indexes such as C-reactive protein (CRP). However, biomarkers are a promising strategy useful to predict pain intensity and to objectively quantify analgesic response in guiding decisions regarding individual-tailored treatments for cancer patients.

Enhancing meaning in the face of advanced cancer and pain: Qualitative evaluation of a meaning-centered psychosocial pain management intervention

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to obtain patient evaluations of the content, structure, and delivery modality of Meaning-Centered Pain Coping Skills Training (MCPC), a novel psychosocial intervention for patients with advanced cancer and pain. MCPC aims to help patients connect with valued sources of meaning in their lives (e.g., family relationships), while providing training in evidence-based cognitive and behavioral skills (e.g., guided imagery) to reduce pain.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 patients with stage IV solid tumor cancers and persistent pain. Transcripts were analyzed using methods from applied thematic analysis.

RESULTS

When evaluating MCPC's educational information and skills training descriptions, participants described ways in which this content resonated with their experience. Many coped with their pain and poor prognosis by relying on frameworks that provided them with a sense of meaning, often involving their personally held religious or spiritual beliefs. They also expressed a need for learning ways to cope with pain in addition to taking medication. A few participants offered helpful suggestions for refining MCPC's content, such as addressing common co-occurring symptoms of sleep disturbance and fatigue. Concerning MCPC's structure and delivery modality, most participants preferred that sessions include their family caregiver and described remote delivery (i.e., telephone or videoconference) as being more feasible than attending in-person sessions.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS

Participants were interested in an intervention that concurrently focuses on learning pain coping skills and enhancing a sense of meaning. Using remote delivery modalities may reduce access barriers (e.g., travel) that would otherwise prevent many patients from utilizing psychosocial services.

Symptom clusters experienced by breast cancer patients at various treatment stages: A systematic review

Breast cancer patients often experience symptoms that adversely affect their quality of life. It is understood that many of these symptoms tend to cluster together: while they might have different manifestations and occur during different phases of the disease trajectory, the symptoms often have a common aetiology that is a potential target for intervention. Understanding the symptom clusters associated with breast cancer might usefully inform the development of effective care plans for affected patients. The aim of this paper is to provide an updated systematic review of the known symptom clusters among breast cancer patients during and/or after cancer treatment. A search was conducted using five databases for studies reporting symptom clusters among breast cancer patients. The search yielded 32 studies for inclusion. The findings suggest that fatigue-sleep disturbance and psychological symptom cluster (including anxiety, depression, nervousness, irritability, sadness, worry) are the most commonly-reported symptom clusters among breast cancer patients. Further, the composition of symptom clusters tends to change across various stages of cancer treatment. While this review identified some commonalities, the different methodologies used to identify symptom clusters resulted in inconsistencies in symptom cluster identification. It would be useful if future studies could separately examine the symptom clusters that occur in breast cancer patients undergoing a particular treatment type, and use standardised instruments across studies to assess symptoms. The review concludes that further studies could usefully determine the biological pathways associated with various symptom clusters, which would inform the development of effective and efficient symptom management strategies.

Stable Symptom Clusters and Evolving Symptom Networks in Relation to Chemotherapy Cycles

CONTEXT

The existence of stable symptom clusters with variations or changes in cluster membership and the merging of symptom clusters over time urge us to investigate how symptom relationships change over time.

OBJECTIVES

To identify stable symptom clusters and understand networks among symptoms using longitudinal data.

METHODS

Secondary data analysis was conducted using data from a nonblinded randomized clinical trial, which evaluated the effect and feasibility of the developed cancer symptom management system. For the present study, data from all participants of the original trial were analyzed (N = 249). The severity of 20 symptoms was measured before the start of chemotherapy (CTx) and during the initial four cycles of CTx. Symptom clusters were identified using principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses, and network analysis was used to explore the relationships among symptoms.

RESULTS

Three common symptom clusters were identified. The first cluster consisted of anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, pain, and dyspnea. Fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and drowsiness formed a second stable cluster throughout the CTx cycles. The third cluster comprised loss of appetite, taste change, nausea, and vomiting. In terms of the symptom networks, close relationships were recognized, irrespective of symptom severity level, between anxiety and depression, fatigue and drowsiness, and loss of appetite and taste change. Fatigue was the most central symptom with the highest strength. Edge thickening after starting CTx demonstrated evolving symptom networks in relation to CTx cycles.

CONCLUSION

Stable symptom clusters and evolving networks were identified. The most central symptom was fatigue; however, the paucity of studies that investigated symptom networks and central symptoms calls for further investigations on these phenomena. Identification of central symptoms and underlying mechanisms will guide efficient symptom management. Future studies will need to focus on developing comprehensive interventions for managing symptom clusters or targeting central symptoms.

Cancer pain and lower functional status predict poor trajectories of symptom and fatigue distress in patients with lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

To identify distinct subgroups of patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer (LC) over time and to explore the predictors of distinct trajectories of symptom and fatigue distress in LC patients.

METHODS

A total of 120 patients newly diagnosed with LC were recruited in this longitudinal prospective study. Our survey investigated patients' symptoms in 6 months. Latent growth curve analysis (LGCA) was conducted to identify patients with distinct trajectories of symptom and fatigue distress. The characteristics of the patients among groups were compared for statistical differences by the chi-square test or ANOVA.

RESULTS

The results of LGCA revealed that the linear three-trajectory model had the best model fit for symptom and fatigue distress. Patients' symptom and fatigue distress improved with time, except for patients with increasing trajectories. Patients' trajectories of symptom and fatigue distress were affected by pain, lower functional status, total symptom score and depression. Moreover, patients with increasing trajectories of symptom and fatigue distress experienced more pain, physiological symptoms and depression from 1 to 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Pain and functional status were the major factors that deteriorated the recovery of trajectory in symptom distress and fatigue distress among patients with increasing trajectories.

Pain or fatigue: which correlates more with suffering in hospitalized cancer patients?

BACKGROUND

The association of pain and suffering seems intuitive, but evidence substantiating this association is lacking. In studies of cancer patients, fatigue, rather than pain, is the most prevalent and debilitating symptom. This study aimed to compare the correlation of pain and fatigue to suffering, and identify other potential sources of suffering in cancer patients treated in a palliative care unit.

METHODS

One hundred fifty cancer patients were surveyed. Fifteen variables were measured on a 0- to 10-point scale: suffering, pain, level of acceptable pain, effect of pain on quality of life, fatigue, level of acceptable fatigue, effect of fatigue on quality of life, and specific types of suffering. Univariable associations with suffering were made with Pearson correlation (continuous variables) or t test (binary predictors). Multivariable associations with suffering were assessed with linear regression analysis and bootstrapping.

RESULTS

In multivariable analysis, highest pain (parameter estimate 0.38) had a greater impact on suffering than highest fatigue (parameter estimate 0.21). When other variables were assessed, 38% of the variability in suffering was accounted for by pain "now", fatigue in the past 24 hours, and age.

CONCLUSION

The most important predictors of greater suffering in hospitalized cancer patients are pain, younger age, and fatigue. Despite their significant effect on suffering, other underlying contributors to suffering have yet to be identified. Designing interventions to reduce fatigue, in addition to pain management, may help in alleviating overall suffering.

Relationship between cytokines and symptoms in people with incurable cancer: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Development and spread of cancer is linked to the inflammatory response, in which cytokines serve a key role. The inflammatory response may also form the basis for symptoms of cancer. This systematic review examines the relationship between cytokines and symptoms in incurable cancer.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science and PsycINFO databases were searched for studies from January 2004 to January 2020.

RESULTS

Twenty studies were selected (n = 1806 patients, 119 controls). Symptoms studied included depression, fatigue, pain, and loss of appetite. Nine studies examined patients with a specified tumour type, the remainder included patients with a mix of tumour types. Thirty-one cytokines were examined; multiple associations between cytokines and symptoms were described, supporting the hypothesis that cytokines may have a key role in symptom generation.

CONCLUSION

Symptoms of incurable cancer are associated with circulating cytokines. Further study is required to characterise these relationships, and to explore their therapeutic potential.

Prognostic implications of depression and inflammation in patients with metastatic lung cancer

Background: Lung cancer-related inflammation is associated with depression. Both elevated inflammation and depression are associated with worse survival. However, outcomes of patients with concomitant depression and elevated inflammation are not known. Materials & methods: Patients with metastatic lung cancer (n = 123) were evaluated for depression and inflammation. Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox proportional hazard models provided survival estimations. Results: Estimated survival was 515 days for the cohort and 323 days for patients with depression (hazard ratio: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.05-1.179), 356 days for patients with elevated inflammation (hazard ratio: 2.85, 95% CI: 1.856-4.388), and 307 days with both (χ2 = 12.546; p < 0.001]). Conclusion: Depression and inflammation are independently associated with inferior survival. Survival worsened by inflammation is mediated by depression-a treatable risk factor.

Morphine inhibits the promotion of inflammatory microenvironment on chronic tibial cancer pain through the PI3K-Akt-NF-κB pathway

PURPOSE

Inflammatory microenvironment is critical in the transmission of advanced cancer pain. This paper will study how morphine ameliorates advanced cancer pain through inflammatory microenvironment.

METHODS

Fifty female healthy rats were selected and divided into control group, sham group, model group, morphine group and morphine + 740YP group by random number table. At the left tibia, rats in the model, morphine and morphine + 740YP groups received Walker256 cells injection, while those in the sham group received an equal amount of Hank solution. The control group received no treatment. After modeling, the rats' spontaneous pain behavior, paw withdrawal mechanical threshold (PWMT) and paw withdrawal thermal latency (PWTL) were measured and statistically analyzed. The protein levels of PI3K, Akt, NF-κB and pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α/IL-1β/IL-6/IL-17a) in rats were detected. Rat left dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells were extracted and treated with 10, 20 and 30 μmol/L morphine to observe their effects on the cells.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, the model group presented increased spontaneous pain behavior and PWTL, decreased PWMT, and reduced mechanical pain threshold, as well as enhanced levels of PI3K, Akt, NF-κB and pro-inflammatory factors in vivo as compared to the control group. While the morphine group showed less spontaneous pain behavior and PWTL, increased PWMT, and down-regulated PI3K, Akt, NF-κB and pro-inflammatory factors in vivo in comparison with the model group. After morphine treatment, the apoptosis of DRG cells decreased and the cell activity increased, while PI3K, Akt, NF-κB and pro-inflammatory factors levels decreased. Morphine affected DRG cells in a dose-dependent manner. Up-regulation of PI3K could counteract the inhibitory effect of morphine on chronic tibial cancer pain.

CONCLUSIONS

Morphine inhibits the promotion of inflammatory microenvironment on chronic tibial cancer pain via the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway, and the regulation of the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway can improve the therapeutic effect of morphine on chronic tibial cancer pain.

Systematic Review of the Kynurenine Pathway and Psychoneurological Symptoms Among Adult Cancer Survivors

The co-occurrence of multiple psychoneurological symptoms, including pain, sleep disturbance, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and cognitive disturbance among adult cancer survivors led us to question which common biological mechanisms are shared among these conditions. Variances in tryptophan (Trp) levels and downstream metabolites of the kynurenine (Kyn) metabolic pathway are known to affect immune response and psychoneurological symptoms. The objective of this systematic review was to help us (a) better understand the role of the Kyn pathway in psychoneurological symptoms among adult cancer survivors and (b) identify common significant biomarkers across psychoneurological symptoms as a guide for future research. Some evidence has shown that decreased Trp levels and increased Kyn, Trp/Kyn ratio, and kynurenic acid/Trp ratio in parallel with immune activation are correlated with some psychoneurological symptoms among people undergoing cancer treatment, although discrepancies exist between studies. Kyn pathway activation could also be associated with psychoneurological symptoms among adult cancer survivors, but further research is needed to confirm its exact etiological role with respect to psychoneurological symptoms.

A Longitudinal Analysis of Inflammation and Depression in Patients With Metastatic Lung Cancer: Associations With Survival

BACKGROUND

Depression and inflammation are concomitantly elevated in patients with lung cancer and may have collective survival implications. However, the longitudinal relationship between depression and inflammation in patients with metastatic lung cancer is not fully appreciated. We hypothesized that longitudinal changes in inflammation and depression would be concordant; that longitudinally elevated inflammation would lead to greater depression over time; and that depression with inflammation would be more persistent than depression without inflammation.

METHODS

Patients with metastatic lung cancer (n = 68) were assessed for clinically significant depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale ≥ 8) and inflammation (C-Reactive Protein ≥ 1 mg/L) along with demographic variables. Survival estimations were made using Cox Proportional Hazard Model and Kaplan-Meier plot analyses.

RESULTS

At baseline (T1), 15% had depression and 35% had increased inflammation followed by 18% with depression and 38% with increased inflammation 4.7 months later (T2). The odds ratio of depression in the presence of clinically significant inflammation was 4.8 at T1 and 5.3 at T2. Between time points, inflammation difference correlated with depression difference (r = -.26, p = .03). Significant depression at both time points was associated with a 4 fold risk of inferior survival while significant inflammation at any time point was associated with >3 fold risk of inferior survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Depression and inflammation track together over time and have variable implications on survival. Persistent depression is particularly detrimental but incidental inflammation is more sensitive to predicting poor survival. These findings have implications for treating depression early in the lung cancer trajectory.

Factors associated with sleep quality during chemotherapy: An integrative review

Aim

To identify the most important factors associated with sleep pattern changes in patients with cancer during chemotherapy treatment.

Design

An integrative review of the literature was performed between December 2017-August 2018.

Methods

Two independent reviewers searching the National Library of Medicine (PubMed/MEDLINE), Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), Scopus and Scielo. The process followed the recommendations of the PRISMA tool. A total of 16 articles were selected for the final study sample, including 11 cohort studies and 5 cross-sectional studies.

Results

The predisposing factors for the most prevalent sleep disturbances were precipitants related to the disease and the treatment, such as fatigue, pain, depression, anxiety and distress. Predisposing factors related to lifestyle and demographic characteristics have a significant correlation with sleep disturbances.

Symptom Clusters and Functional Impairment in Individuals Treated for Lyme Borreliosis

Context: Persistent fatigue, pain, and neurocognitive impairment are common in individuals following treatment for Lyme borreliosis (LB). Poor sleep, depression, visual disturbance, and sensory neuropathies have also been reported. The cause of these symptoms is unclear, and widely accepted effective treatment strategies are lacking.

Objectives: To identify symptom clusters in people with persistent symptoms previously treated for LB and to examine the relationship between symptom severity and perceived disability.

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of individuals with a history of treatment of LB referred to The Dean Center for Tick-Borne Illness at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital between 2015 and 2018 (n = 270) because of persistent symptoms. Symptoms and functional impairment were collected using the General Symptom Questionnaire-30 (GSQ-30), and the Sheehan Disability Scale. Clinical tests were conducted to evaluate for tick-borne co-infections and to rule out medical disorders that could mimic LB symptomatology. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to identify symptom clusters.

Results: Five symptom clusters were identified. Each cluster was assigned a name to reflect the possible underlying etiology and was based on the majority of the symptoms in the cluster: the neuropathy symptom cluster, sleep-fatigue symptom cluster, migraine symptom cluster, cognitive symptom cluster, and mood symptom cluster. Symptom severity for each symptom cluster was positively associated with global functional impairment (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Identifying the interrelationship between symptoms in post-treatment LB in a cluster can aid in the identification of the etiological basis of these symptoms and could lead to more effective symptom management strategies.

Key Message: This article describes symptom clusters in individuals with a history of Lyme borreliosis. Five clusters were identified: sleep-fatigue, neuropathy, migraine-like, cognition, and mood clusters. Identifying the interrelationship between symptoms in each of the identified clusters could aid in more effective symptom management through identifying triggering symptoms or an underlying etiology.

Pain-Associated Clusters Among Nursing Home Residents and Older Adults Receiving Home Care in Germany

CONTEXT

There are no available data regarding pain-associated clusters among nursing home residents (NHRs) and older adults receiving home care with chronic pain.

OBJECTIVES

To identify and describe pain-associated clusters in NHRs and older adults receiving home care with chronic pain and to explore associations with clusters in both settings.

METHODS

We surveyed 137 NHRs and 205 older adults receiving home care. Clusters were identified using hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis, using Ward's method with squared Euclidean distances in the proximities matrix. The clusters were characterized based on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify variables associated with different clusters.

RESULTS

In each setting, we identified three clusters: pain relieved, pain impaired, and suffering severe pain. In the nursing home study and home care study, respectively, the participant distributions were 46.72% and 11.71% in the pain-relieved cluster, 22.63% and 33.66% in the pain-impaired cluster, and 30.66% and 54.63% in the severe-pain cluster. Appropriate pain medication was only detected among pain-relieved NHRs.

CONCLUSION

Overall, differences in pain management exist within the two care settings presented here. There is potential for improvement in both settings. Moreover, there exists a need for clinical interventions aiming at shifting from pain-affected clusters to pain-relieved status.

Interventions for Managing a Symptom Cluster of Pain, Fatigue, and Sleep Disturbances During Cancer Survivorship: A Systematic Review

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

More than 40% of cancer survivors experience a symptom cluster of pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances, which can greatly reduce quality of life.

LITERATURE SEARCH

A literature search was performed using CINAHL®, Google ScholarTM, PubMed®, PsycINFO®, and Web of Science. Articles included randomized controlled trials of interventions aimed at managing a symptom cluster of pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances.

DATA EVALUATION

11 studies were assessed for quality, risk of bias, cancer type, sample size, intervention type, duration, and setting. For an intervention to be considered effective, the reduction of symptom severity or distress had to be statistically significant.

SYNTHESIS

Data from the 11 studies were summarized. Four interventions were found to be effective in managing the symptom cluster, but evidence on long-term effectiveness was insufficient.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

Oncology nurses can assess the patterns and characteristics of simultaneous symptoms experienced by cancer survivors and administer interventions to relieve symptom burden and improve quality of life.

A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study of Minocycline for Reducing the Symptom Burden Experienced by Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

CONTEXT

Although it is well known that patients with advanced pancreatic cancer (PC) experience significant symptom burden, few strategies for effective symptom intervention are available for them.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the efficacy of minocycline, an anti-inflammatory agent, for symptom reduction in patients with advanced PC.

METHODS

We conducted Phase II, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial to obtain preliminary estimates of the effects on symptom reduction with 100 mg of minocycline or placebo given twice a day. Eligible patients had diagnosed advanced PC and were scheduled for standard chemotherapy. Patient-reported symptoms were measured weekly during the eight-week trial using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) module in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. The primary outcome measure was the area under the curve values of the five most severe symptoms in the two arms.

RESULTS

Of the 44 patients recruited, 31 (71%) were evaluable for the primary efficacy analysis, with 18 received minocycline and 13 placebo. Fatigue, pain, disturbed sleep, lack of appetite, and drowsiness were the most severe symptoms reported by both groups. No significant differences in area under the curve values over time between the study arms were found for the composite MDASI score or single-item scores of the five most severe MDASI items. No treatment-related deaths were reported, and no Grade 3-4 toxicities were observed.

CONCLUSION

Minocycline is safe for use in patients receiving treatment for PC. There is no observed symptom reduction with minocycline on the major symptom burden associated with advanced PC compared with placebo. Attrition because of rapid disease progression impacted the study significantly.

Physical problem list accompanying the distress thermometer: Its associations with psychological symptoms and survival in patients with metastatic lung cancer

BACKGROUND

The distress thermometer and problem list (DT&PL) is a recommended screening measure but the utility of the physical problem list (PPL) has not been evaluated in patients with metastatic lung cancer who typically have high rates of both physical and psychological symptoms. We hypothesized that the PPL will provide an accurate representation of lung cancer symptoms and be associated with concomitant distress, anxiety, depression, and worsened survival.

METHODS

Stage IV lung cancer patients (n = 116) reported physical symptoms from 22 PPL variables and completed the DT&PL for distress, general anxiety disorder-7 for anxiety, and Patient Health Questionnaire 9 for depression. Inferential analyses were controlled for demographic and clinical characteristics.

RESULTS

The average number of physical problems was 4.7 (SD = 3.8) while the median was 3.0. Fatigue, sleep, pain, and breathing problems were most common. Physical symptom burden was associated with nonmarried/partnered status (P = .003) and depression (P < .001) on multivariate analysis accounting for 43% of physical symptom burden variance. Greater number of physical symptoms and lower BMI were associated with worsened survival. Individual physical symptoms were most often associated with depression.

CONCLUSION

The PPL of the DT&PL appears to have clinical utility given its associations with the most common lung cancer symptoms, depression, and worsened survival. In addition to its potential role in clinics worldwide already using the DT&PL, physical symptom burden on the DT&PL should trigger a concomitant psychological assessment.

Reductions in Fatigue Predict Occupational Re-engagement in Individuals with Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders

Background Symptoms of fatigue have been shown to be associated with heightened levels of disability in patients suffering from a wide range of debilitating health and mental health conditions. The role of fatigue as a determinant of work disability in individuals with work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMD) has received little attention. The present study examined the role of fatigue as a determinant of work-disability in individuals with WRMDs. Methods Participants included 117 individuals with WRMDs who completed measures of pain severity, fatigue, depression and disability before and after participating in a behavioral activation rehabilitation intervention. Results Cross-sectional analyses on pre-treatment measures revealed that fatigue contributed significant variance to the prediction of self-reported disability, beyond the variance accounted for by pain severity and depression. Prospective analyses revealed that reductions in fatigue through the course of treatment predicted occupational re-engagement following termination of the intervention. Conclusions The results of the present study suggest fatigue contributes to occupational disability, independent of the effects of pain and depression. The findings also suggest that meaningful reductions in fatigue might be achieved through psychosocial interventions that promote gradual re-integration into discontinued activities, increase participants' exposure to success and achievement experiences, and reduce the severity of depressive symptoms. Behavioural activation interventions such as the one used in the present study might contribute to more positive occupational outcomes in work-disabled individuals who report high levels of fatigue.

Minocycline for symptom reduction during radiation therapy for head and neck cancer: a randomized clinical trial

PURPOSE

Local/systemic symptoms during cancer therapy may be exacerbated by dysregulated inflammation and its downstream toxic effects. Minocycline can suppress proinflammatory cytokine release; therefore, we investigated its potential to reduce patient-reported symptom severity during radiotherapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC).

METHODS

Eligible patients for this blinded, placebo-controlled trial were adults with T0-3, N-any, and M0 HNC receiving single-modality RT. Participants were randomized 1:1 to either minocycline (200 mg/day) or placebo during RT. The primary endpoint was the area under the curve (AUC) of 5 prespecified symptoms (pain, fatigue, disturbed sleep, poor appetite, difficulty swallowing/chewing) during RT, assessed with the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory for HNC (MDASI-HN).

RESULTS

We analyzed data from 20 evaluable patients per arm. Overall, 75% had oropharyngeal cancer and 78% were male. No grade 3+ adverse events potentially related to study medication were observed. Two minocycline patients required a feeding tube during RT vs 5 placebo patients (P = 0.21). The average daily AUC during RT for the 5 MDASI-HN symptoms was 3.1 (SD = 1.0) for minocycline and 3.7 (SD = 1.7) for placebo (P = 0.16); the 0.37 effect size was less than our 0.70 target. AUC comparisons for several individual symptoms and symptom interference favored minocycline but were not statistically significant. The greatest numerical differences occurred for systemic symptoms, larger toward treatment end, and in early post-RT recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

Minocycline was feasible, well tolerated, and achieved a positive signal toward reducing patient-reported symptom severity during RT for HNC, particularly for systemic symptoms. This justifies additional study and informs future trial design.

Gulf War Illness-associated increases in blood levels of interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein: biomarker evidence of inflammation

OBJECTIVE

Gulf War Illness is a chronic multisymptom disorder severely impacting the health and well-being of many Veterans of the 1990-1991 Gulf War. Symptoms that define the disease include pain, fatigue, mood and memory impairments, gastrointestinal problems, lung disorders, and skin rashes. In our previous biomarker study, we discovered Gulf War Illness-associated proinflammatory blood biomarkers. Therefore, we hypothesized that chronic inflammation causes the symptoms that define this disorder. Testing the chronic inflammation hypothesis is the objective of this study.

RESULTS

The biomarker fingerprint of Gulf War Illness is the end-product of a cascade of proinflammatory cytokine signals. In particular, the observed increase in C-reactive protein predicts a corresponding increase in interleukin 6, the cytokine that stimulates hepatocytes to produce C-reactive protein. Therefore, in this study we measured potential upstream cytokine signals in plasma samples from Gulf War Veterans. As predicted, a positive correlation between interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein was observed.

Periodontal disease, sleep duration, and white blood cell markers in the 2009 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys

BACKGROUND

Elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers are consistently associated with chronic conditions, for which periodontitis and sleep are established risk factors. We examined the relationships between periodontitis, hours of sleep and white blood cell (WBC) markers among a nationally representative sample of US adults.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study using existing demographic, examination, laboratory and questionnaire data on 11,813 participants (5,814 men and 5,999 women, mean age ± SE; range: 52.74 ± 0.24; 30 to 80 years) from the 2009 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Unadjusted, sex- and age-adjusted, as well as fully adjusted linear and logistic regression models were conducted in addition to generalized structural equations models, while considering sampling design complexity. β, odds ratios with their 95% confidence intervals, indirect effects and mediation proportions were estimated.

RESULTS

The weighted mean WBC count was 7,130 cells/µL, with the WBC 5-part differential estimated in terms of percentages of lymphocytes (29.50%), monocytes (7.99%), neutrophils (59.03%), eosinophils (2.84%), and basophils (71.88%). Furthermore, 36.2% of participants reported <7 hours of sleep and 49.8% had periodontitis. In fully adjusted models controlling for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health characteristics, neither WBC markers nor periodontitis were related to hours of sleep. By contrast, periodontitis was directly related to WBC count and %neutrophils and inversely related to %lymphocytes, especially among men. However, the relationship of periodontitis with %neutrophils and %lymphocytes may be modified by hours of sleep, as it was specific to individuals reporting ≥7 hours of sleep.

CONCLUSION

Periodontitis may be directly related to WBC count and %neutrophils and inversely related to %lymphocytes, especially among men and individuals reporting ≥7 hours of sleep, with implications for primary and secondary prevention.

The holistic management of fatigue within palliative care

BACKGROUND

Fatigue is a common symptom experienced by people with cancer and other long-term, non-malignant conditions. It can be disease-related or caused by treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Patients frequently report this as a distressing symptom and, while some international guidelines for its management exist, evidence suggests that these are not always implemented.

METHOD

This article reviews the evidence basis for fatigue management, looking at exercise, education, psychological interventions, complementary therapies and pharmacological therapy, and finds that a one-size fits all approach to fatigue management is unrealistic.

FINDINGS

Research appears to support different interventions at various points in the disease trajectory and this is of importance for service design as palliative care is increasingly introduced earlier in the patient's pathway.

CONCLUSION

Although the body of research is growing, management of fatigue caused by non-malignant conditions remains poorly evidenced, making comprehensive recommendations for these patient groups even more challenging.

Yoga Protocol for Cancer Patients: A Systematic Exploration of Psychophysiological Benefits

BACKGROUND

Several studies report that practicing Yoga may lead to numerous psychophysiological benefits in patients undergoing treatment for cancer. Moreover, it may result in an effective alternative for coping with sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression and fatigue symptoms. A study based on the "Yoga in Oncology" project of the Foundation Poliambulanza was carried out, and it was designed to explore the benefits of Yoga, therefore corroborating Yoga as a therapeutic activity that can have a beneficial impact on patients diagnosed with cancer.

METHODS

Seventy patients were recruited, of whom 20% were males and 80% were females 18 years of age and older. All patients were being treated at the oncology department for gastrointestinal, mammary or genital carcinoma, and the disease was metastatic in 80% of patients. Data were collected between April 2013 and May 2017. The protocol consisted of a weekly 90-minute Yoga lesson for 8 consecutive weeks, and the data collection was carried out in 2 phases: (T0) preprotocol assessment and (T1) postprotocol assessment. Psychophysiological assessment was carried out with the following scales: the (BFI) Brief Fatigue Inventory, (HADS) Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and (PSQI) Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

RESULTS

Data analysis showed a significant difference between the (T0) and (T1) HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) scores. The constructs of this scale consist of psychological variables for the assessment of anxiety and depression. In contrast, scores from the (BFI) Brief Fatigue Inventory and (PSQI) Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index did not show significant differences between (T0) and (T1): such scales are relative to psychophysiological variables for an assessment of the perception of fatigue and quality of sleep.

CONCLUSION

It is noteworthy that the data, once analyzed, showed a significant difference between preprotocol and postprotocol levels of anxiety and depression but not for the perception of fatigue or the quality of sleep. In accordance with the scientific literature, data from this study highlight that practicing Yoga may promote changes in the levels of perceived anxiety and depression in patients undergoing treatment for cancer, thus positively affecting their (QoL). It is clear that the difference in significance between the psychological and physiological variables considered here and the statistical significance found only in levels of anxiety and depression encourage further studies to account for the nature of fatigue and sleep disturbances and how to address these symptoms in oncological patients. Moreover, other points of interest for future clinical research regard the evaluation of the reason for the possible denial to participate to this kind of study, as well as the social-cultural differences in patients' behavior.

Effect of progressive resistance training on health-related quality of life in the first year after breast cancer surgery - results from a randomized controlled trial

Aims: To examine the effect of progressive resistance training (PRT) on health related quality of life and a predefined symptom cluster of pain-sleep-fatigue. Methods: This study was a planned secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial examining the effect of PRT on prevention of arm lymphedema in a population of women between 18 and 75 years undergoing breast cancer surgery with axillary lymph node dissection. Participants were allocated by computer randomization to usual care control or a PRT intervention in a 1:1 ratio. The intervention, initiated in the third post-operative week, consisted of three times PRT per week, supervised in groups in the first 20 weeks, and self-administered in the following 30 weeks. Questionnaire assessments were made at baseline, 20 weeks and 12 months, with the European Organization for Research and Treatment in Cancer Core questionnaire (EORTC QLQ C30) and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-(FACIT) fatigue questionnaire. The symptom cluster of pain-sleep-fatigue was measured with a constructed score adding EORTC C30 subscales of insomnia, pain, and fatigue. Data were treated as repeated measurements and analyzed with mixed models. Results: Among 158 recruited participants, we found a clinically relevant increased emotional functioning with nine points at both follow-ups (p = .02), and 16 and 11 points at 20 weeks and 12 months respectively (p = .04) in social functioning. Furthermore, in the subgroup of women with the symptom cluster pain-sleep-fatigue present at baseline, a significant effect was found for global health status (p = .01) and social functioning (p = .02). Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to report clinically relevant effects of PRT on social and emotional functioning in the first postoperative year after breast cancer surgery. Furthermore, a subgroup of women with the pain-sleep-fatigue symptom cluster had particular benefit from PRT on global health status and social functioning.

The development and evaluation of a sub-health self-rating scale for university students in China

Background

Sub-health status is defined as declines in vitality, physiological function and capacity for adaptation, but without the presence of clinical or sub-clinical disease. We have developed and evaluated a comprehensive questionnaire, the Sub-Health Self-Rating Scale (SSS), to assess sub-health status in university students.

Method

The items for the draft questionnaire were discussed in focus groups. The WHOQOL-BREF was selected as the validity reference. From a professional perspective and large sample evaluation, the scale ultimately consisted of 58 items. The reliability and validity of the SSS was examined in undergraduate students and 1000 questionnaires were randomly selected from the samples for expert evaluation.

Results

Cronbach’s α of the total scale was 0.942. The dimensions of physiological, psychological and social had high reliability: 0.915, 0.856 and 0.850, respectively. Based on scree plot and related theories, there were 10 factors to be extracted. The correlation coefficient between the total scale and sub-scale was high. The dimensions of physiological, psychological and social had high correlations with the total scale: 0.929, 0.803 and 0.774, respectively. The sub-health cut-off point of the total scale was 72; for the physiological field, it was 72; for the psychological field, it was 60; and the social field, it was 56. The fit between the expert evaluation method and the scale method was 0.758. The lower the score, the worse the health condition.

Conclusion

We established and evaluated a valid instrument (SSS) that encompasses physiological, psychological and social factors to investigate sub-health status. It is short and easy to complete, and therefore suitable for use with undergraduate students.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-019-6650-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.