Genes Involved in the HPA Axis and the Symptom Cluster of Fatigue, Depressive Symptoms, and Anxiety in Women With Breast Cancer During 18 Months of Adjuvant Therapy

Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR) training: the efficacy on fatigue and sleep quality of Iranian female patients with cancer

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to examine the efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR) training on fatigue and sleep quality of Iranian female patients with cancer.

METHOD

Thirty female patients with cancer were randomized to one of the MBCR and control groups. Subjects of the MBCR group received 8 sessions of MBCR training, while subjects of the control group received a 1-day didactic stress management seminar (SMS). All participants responded to the Cancer Fatigue Scale (CFT) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale (PSQL) as pre- and post-test measures.

RESULTS

Using MANCOVA for analyzing data revealed a significant improvement in the level of fatigue among subjects of the MBCR group compared to the controls; however, MBCR had no significant effect on the level of sleep quality.

CONCLUSION

The Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery program can be considered an effective approach to reducing fatigue for Iranian female patients with cancer. The clinical implications of this finding require further investigation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study was registered with the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) on 24 June 2024; see [IRCT20240315061296N1].

Psychological Symptom Cluster Severity Profiles Are Associated With Higher Levels of Stress and Worse Quality of Life in Postmenopausal Women With Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

Although common, the severity of the psychological symptom cluster (PSC) (ie, co-occurrence of anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance) varies among women with breast cancer. In addition, the impact of various types of stress and other risk factors on its severity are understudied, and the influence of the PSC on quality of life (QOL) outcomes remains poorly characterized.

OBJECTIVE

To identify subgroups of postmenopausal women with breast cancer with distinct PSC severity profiles following surgery and evaluate whether these subgroups differed in terms of demographic and clinical characteristics, symptoms, social and posttraumatic stress, and QOL.

METHODS

Following surgery, 159 postmenopausal women with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer completed assessments of anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, cognitive function, physical symptoms, stress, and QOL. Latent profile analysis was used to identify subgroups of women based on the severity of the prespecified PSC. Parametric and nonparametric tests were used to evaluate for subgroup differences.

RESULTS

Three distinct PSC severity subgroups were identified (ie, Lower [71.7%], Moderate [23.9%], Higher [4.4%]). Compared with the Lower subgroup, the Moderate subgroup was less likely to have received prior radiation, and the Moderate and Higher subgroups had worse perceived cognitive function, higher symptom burden, higher posttraumatic stress, and lower QOL. Clinically relevant sleep disturbance was common across PSC subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

PSC severity is associated with higher posttraumatic stress and poorer QOL following breast surgery. Sleep disturbance is a common problem and may be undertreated.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Assessments of posttraumatic stress and sleep disturbance are needed for timely intervention.

Differential Characteristics of Fatigue-Pain-Sleep Disturbance-Depression Symptom Cluster and Influencing Factors of Patients With Advanced Cancer During Treatment: A Latent Class Analysis

BACKGROUND

Patients with advanced cancer may experience symptom clusters during treatment (eg, fatigue, pain, sleep disturbance, depression). Understanding the characteristics and factors associated with symptom cluster classes among this patient population is essential for effective symptom management.

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this study were to identify symptom cluster (fatigue-pain-sleep disturbance-depression) classes and explore influencing factors in patients with advanced cancer during the treatment.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in an oncology department of a tertiary hospital in China from September 2020 to March 2021. Cancer patients (stage III/IV) 18 years or older completed the questionnaires on pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, depression, physical activity, and exercise self-efficacy. Latent class analysis and multinomial logistic regression were used.

RESULTS

Three hundred sixty-five patients who were male (65.2%) and younger than 60 years (59.5%) completed questionnaires. Three symptom cluster classes were identified: class 1 ("low symptom burden" class), class 2 ("fatigue-insomnia" class), and class 3 ("high symptom burden" class), with a percentage of 54.5%, 38.6%, and 6.8%, respectively. The quality-of-life score, introversion/extroversion, economic burden, Karnofsky Performance Status, albumin level, and exercise self-efficacy were significantly different among the 3 classes (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

Patients with advanced cancer were classified into 3 distinct classes, with class 1 having the best function. Results from this study reveal that Karnofsky Performance Status, albumin level, and exercise self-efficacy were significant factors for the latent classes of symptom cluster.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Exercise self-efficacy is important for personalized interventions and improving symptom management efficiency.

Radiotherapy-induced fatigue in Palestinian breast cancer survivors

Background

No study has investigated the cancer-related fatigue (CRF) among Palestinian breast cancer survivors. Our purpose is to assess, compare, and correlate CRF in breast cancer survivors undergoing radiotherapy (RT) with study variables.

Methods

CRF in breast cancer survivors was assessed using Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Fatigue Scale (FACIT-F) (version 4). The sample consisted of 148 breast cancer survivors undergoing RT. Data was collected between 1 May 2021 and 1 September 2021. The means and standard deviations of the questionnaire using one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient were reported.

Results

Respondents ages ranged from 20 to >65 years old and was divided into four groups: (20-35, 36-50, 51-65, and >65 years, respectively). The total fatigue mean was 2.88 and the SD was 0.84, indicating an intermediate fatigue level among breast cancer survivors. Study survivors with higher education were more likely to be fatigued (F =7.68, P-value =0.001). Divorced survivors were more prone to fatigue compared to married survivors (F =5.83, P-value= 0.001). Finally, survivors who do not have children were more vulnerable to exhaustion compared to those with children (F =7.35, P-value =0.001). Also, younger survivors were more prone to fatigue, compared to older survivors (F =5.29, P-value = 0.002). Results also showed a positive relationship between each of the variables; the number of children (R =0.221, P-value =0.007), age (R =0.311, P-value =0.000), and duration of treatment (R =0.290, P-value =0.000), which means that the greater the number of children, the younger the age, or the longer the duration of treatment, the more fatigue is reported in breast cancer survivors.

Conclusions

Fatigue is frequently observed in breast cancer survivors undergoing RT. It can limit RT treatment continuity. Therefore, early detection of fatigue can help survivors adhere to RT treatment and achieve better clinical results.

Psychoneurological symptom cluster trajectories in individuals treated for early-stage breast cancer

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

The psychoneurological (PN) symptom cluster has been defined in the literature as anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and pain. PN symptoms are influenced by cancer and its treatment as well as biological and psychosocial factors. The purpose of this analysis was to describe temporal patterns of the PN symptom cluster severity in breast cancer survivors over the year following initial surgical intervention and investigate the time-dependent effect of treatment modality on symptom severity.

METHODS

In a prospective longitudinal study, symptom data were collected from individuals with early-stage breast cancer 48 h after initial surgery and at monthly intervals for the subsequent 12 months using the PROMIS®-29 subscales for anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and pain. Applying group-based trajectory modeling, we classified participants into subgroups with similar temporal patterns of PN symptom cluster severity and included treatment modality as a time-dependent covariate.

RESULTS

Across 353 participants (mean age 60.10 ± 11.9 years, 88.95% white, 66.57% undergoing segmental mastectomies), four distinct trajectory subgroups (mild [47.6%; n = 168], moderate [28.3%; n = 100], severe [15.9%; n = 56], and most severe increasing [8.2%; n = 29]) were revealed for PN symptom cluster severity. Chemotherapy was associated with greater severity in all symptom severity subgroups, while radiation was associated with greater symptom severity in the mild and most severe increasing subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

A subgroup of individuals with early-stage breast cancer experienced persistent severe PN symptoms. Future research should focus on psychosocial, biological, and disease-related characteristics of individuals in the most severe symptom group to inform preventative treatments and effective interventions.

Depression and Anxiety Trajectories in Chronic Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

People living with chronic diseases are at an increased risk of anxiety and depression, which are associated with poorer medical and psychosocial outcomes. Many studies have examined the trajectories of depression and anxiety in people with specific diseases, including the predictors of these trajectories. This is valuable for understanding the process of adjustment to diseases and informing treatment planning. However, no review has yet synthesised this information across chronic diseases.

METHODS

Electronic databases were searched for studies reporting trajectories of depression or anxiety in chronic disease samples. Data extracted included sample characteristics, results from trajectory analyses, and predictors of trajectories. Meta-analysis of the overall pooled prevalence of depression and anxiety trajectories was conducted, and qualitative synthesis of disease severity predictors was undertaken.

RESULTS

Following search and screening, 67 studies were included (N = 61,201 participants). Most participants followed a stable nonclinical trajectory for depression (69.0% [95% CI: 65.6, 72.2]) and anxiety (73.4% [95% CI: 66.3, 79.5]). Smaller but meaningful subsamples followed a trajectory of depression and anxiety symptoms consistently in the clinical range (11.8% [95% CI: 9.2, 14.8] and 13.7% [95% CI: 9.3, 19.7], respectively). Several clinical and methodological moderators emerged, and qualitative synthesis suggested that few aspects of disease severity were associated with participants' trajectories.

CONCLUSION

Most people with chronic disease follow a trajectory of distress that is low and stable, suggesting that most people psychologically adjust to living with chronic disease. Evidence also suggests that the nature and severity of the disease are not meaningful predictors of psychological distress.

Neurotransmitter Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated with Symptom Clusters in Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy

OBJECTIVES

Purpose was to evaluate for associations between the severity of three distinct symptom clusters (ie, sickness-behavior, mood-cognitive, treatment-related) and polymorphisms for 16 genes involved in catecholaminergic, GABAergic, and serotonergic neurotransmission.

DATA SOURCES

Patients with breast and prostate cancer (n = 157) completed study questionnaires at the completion of radiation therapy. Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale was used to assess the severity of 32 common symptoms. Three distinct symptom clusters were identified using exploratory factor analysis. Associations between the symptom cluster severity scores and neurotransmitter gene polymorphisms were evaluated using regression analyses.

CONCLUSION

Severity scores for the sickness-behavior symptom cluster were associated with polymorphisms for solute carrier family 6 (SLC6A) member 2 (SLC6A2), SLC6A3, SLC6A1, and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor (HTR) 2A (HTR2A) genes. For the mood-cognitive symptom cluster, severity scores were associated with polymorphisms for adrenoreceptor alpha 1D, SLC6A2, SLC6A3, SLC6A1, HTR2A, and HTR3A. Severity scores for the treatment-related symptom cluster were associated with polymorphisms for SLC6A2, SLC6A3, catechol-o-methyltransferase, SLC6A1, HTR2A, SLC6A4, and tryptophan hydroxylase 2.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Findings suggest that polymorphisms for several neurotransmitter genes are involved in the severity of sickness-behavior, mood-cognitive, and treatment-related symptom clusters in oncology patients at the completion of radiation therapy. Four genes with various associated polymorphisms were common across the three distinct symptom clusters (ie, SLC6A2, SLC6A3, SLC6A1, HTR2A) which suggest that these clusters have common underlying mechanisms.

Role of FKBP5 and its genetic mutations in stress-induced psychiatric disorders: an opportunity for drug discovery

Stress-induced mental health disorders are affecting many people around the world. However, effective drug therapy for curing psychiatric diseases does not occur sufficiently. Many neurotransmitters, hormones, and mechanisms are essential in regulating the body's stress response. One of the most critical components of the stress response system is the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The FKBP prolyl isomerase 51 (FKBP51) protein is one of the main negative regulators of the HPA axis. FKBP51 negatively regulates the cortisol effects (the end product of the HPA axis) by inhibiting the interaction between glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) and cortisol, causing reduced transcription of downstream cortisol molecules. By regulating cortisol effects, the FKBP51 protein can indirectly regulate the sensitivity of the HPA axis to stressors. Previous studies have indicated the influence of FKBP5 gene mutations and epigenetic changes in different psychiatric diseases and drug responses and recommended the FKBP51 protein as a drug target and a biomarker for psychological disorders. In this review, we attempted to discuss the effects of the FKBP5 gene, its mutations on different psychiatric diseases, and drugs affecting the FKBP5 gene.

Tryptophan and Kynurenine Pathway Metabolites and Psychoneurological Symptoms Among Breast Cancer Survivors

BACKGROUND

Among breast cancer survivors, pain, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance are common psychoneurological symptoms that cluster together. Inflammation-induced activation of the tryptophan-kynurenine metabolomic pathway may play an important role in these symptoms.

AIMS

This study investigated the relationship between the metabolites involved in the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway and psychoneurological symptoms among breast cancer survivors.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Participants were recruited at the oncology clinic at the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System.

PARTICIPANTS/SUBJECTS

79 breast cancer survivors after major cancer treatment.

METHODS

We assessed psychoneurological symptoms with the PROMIS-29 and collected metabolites from fasting blood among breast cancer survivors after major cancer treatment, then analyzed four major metabolites involved in the tryptophankynurenine pathway (tryptophan, kynurenine, kynurenic acid, and quinolinic acid). Latent profile analysis identified subgroups based on the five psychoneurological symptoms. Mann-Whitney U tests and multivariable logistic regression compared targeted metabolites between subgroups.

RESULTS

We identified two distinct symptom subgroups (low, 81%; high, 19%). Compared with participants in the low symptom subgroup, patients in the high symptom subgroup had higher BMI (p = .024) and were currently using antidepressants (p = .008). Using multivariable analysis, lower tryptophan levels (p = .019) and higher kynurenine/tryptophan ratio (p = .028) were associated with increased risk of being in the high symptom subgroup after adjusting for BMI and antidepressant status.

CONCLUSION

The tryptophan-kynurenine pathway and impaired tryptophan availability may contribute to the development of psychoneurological symptoms.

Moving beyond Table 1: A critical review of the literature addressing social determinants of health in chronic condition symptom cluster research

Variability in the symptom experience in patients diagnosed with chronic conditions may be related to social determinants of health (SDoH). The purpose of this critical review was to (1) summarize the existing literature on SDoH and symptom clusters (i.e., multiple, co-occurring symptoms) in patients diagnosed with common chronic conditions, (2) evaluate current variables and measures used to represent SDoH, (3) identify gaps in the evidence base, and (4) provide recommendations for the incorporation of SDoH into future symptom cluster research. We identified 118 articles including information on SDoH in chronic condition symptom cluster research. Articles primarily focused on cancer populations. Few articles had the explicit purpose of investigating relationships between SDoH and symptom clusters, and the inclusion of SDoH was often limited to variables used to describe samples. Future studies should be designed to "move beyond Table 1" in their utilization of SDoH as variables and examine relationships between SDoH and symptom clusters. Attention should be paid to the appropriateness of measures being used to collect information on SDoH, and analysis methods that estimate causal connections between variables should be considered. Research regarding the relationship of SDoH with symptom clusters in patients with chronic conditions has the potential to reveal mechanisms of symptom disparities and guide changes to alleviate these disparities.

Understanding the basis of major depressive disorder in oncological patients: Biological links, clinical management, challenges, and lifestyle medicine

In recent years, the incidence of different types of cancer and patient survival have been rising, as well as their prevalence. The increase in survival in recent years exposes the patients to a set of stressful factors such as more rigorous follow-up and more aggressive therapeutic regimens that, added to the diagnosis of the disease itself, cause an increase in the incidence of depressive disorders. These alterations have important consequences for the patients, reducing their average survival and quality of life, and for these reasons, special emphasis has been placed on developing numerous screening tests and early recognition of depressive symptoms. Despite that cancer and major depressive disorder are complex and heterogeneous entities, they also share many critical pathophysiological mechanisms, aiding to explain this complex relationship from a biological perspective. Moreover, a growing body of evidence is supporting the relevant role of lifestyle habits in the prevention and management of both depression and cancer. Therefore, the present study aims to perform a thorough review of the intricate relationship between depression and cancer, with a special focus on its biological links, clinical management, challenges, and the central role of lifestyle medicine as adjunctive and preventive approaches to improve the quality of life of these patients.

Trajectory patterns and factors influencing perinatal fatigue among Chinese women from late pregnancy to 6 months after delivery

Background

Perinatal fatigue among women is related to the clinical outcomes of mothers and infants. Perinatal fatigue changes over time, and the trajectory varies according to the predictors and outcomes of the mothers. This, however, has not been documented in any study.

Objectives

This study aimed to identify and characterize the trajectory patterns of perinatal fatigue among women from late pregnancy to 6 months after delivery.

Methods

We used growth mixture modeling to estimate the trajectory of perinatal fatigue at 28 gestational weeks (T0), 37 gestational weeks (T1), 3 days (T2), 1 week (T3), 6 weeks (T4), and 6 months (T5) after delivery with (n = 1,030). The Mann-Whitney U test and binary logistic regression were used to tie the selected trajectory classes to predictors and outcomes.

Results

There were two distinct patterns of perinatal fatigue in women: "persistently high" (11.1%, n = 114) and "persistently low" (88.9%, n = 916). Levels of perinatal fatigue among women in the "persistently high" group were higher than those in the "persistently low" group across the six measurements. Complications, fatigue at T0, and employment status in late pregnancy were all significant predictors of trajectories. Additionally, the "persistently high" group had a greater prevalence of difficult baby care and weight retention and a lower prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding.

Conclusions

Our study proved the heterogeneity and characteristics of perinatal fatigue among women. Future research should concentrate on developing intervention packages targeted at specific individuals in order to alleviate perinatal fatigue in women.

Worst Pain Severity Profiles of Oncology Patients Are Associated With Significant Stress and Multiple Co-Occurring Symptoms

Little is known about the associations between pain, stress, and co-occurring symptoms in oncology patients. Purpose was to identify subgroups of patients with distinct worst pain profiles and evaluate for differences among the subgroups in demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as stress and symptom scores. Oncology outpatients (n = 1305) completed questionnaires prior to their second or third chemotherapy cycle. Worst pain intensity was assessed 6 times over 2 chemotherapy cycles using a 0 to 10 numeric rating scale. The 371 patients (28.4%) who had ≤1 occurrence of pain over the 6 assessments were classified as the None class. For the remaining 934 patients whose data were entered into the latent profile analysis, 3 distinct worst pain profiles were identified (ie Mild [12.5%], Moderate [28.6%], Severe [30.5%]). Compared to None class, Severe class had fewer years of education and a lower annual income; were less likely to be employed and married; less likely to exercise on a regular basis, had a higher comorbidity burden, and a worse functional status. Compared to None class, Severe class reported higher levels of general, disease-specific, and cumulative life stress and lower levels of resilience, as well as higher levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and cognitive dysfunction. This study is the first to identify distinct worst pain profiles in a large sample of oncology patients receiving chemotherapy and associated risk factors. PERSPECTIVE: Unrelieved pain remains a significant problem for oncology patients receiving chemotherapy. High levels of stress and co-occurring symptoms contribute to a more severe pain profile in these patients.

Symptom trajectories in breast cancer survivors: growth mixture analysis of patient-reported pain, fatigue, insomnia, breast and arm symptoms

BACKGROUND

Variations in symptom development among breast cancer (BC) survivors are understudied. We examined: (Q1) Symptom trajectories of pain, fatigue, insomnia, breast, and arm symptoms in BC survivors, (Q2) possible patterns or cluster-like associations between trajectory classification of different symptoms, and (Q3) characteristics of survivors assigned to high-burden symptom trajectories.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Participants were 968 women (mean age = 59.6 years) treated for early-stage BC and followed across a three-year postoperative period. As part of routine follow-up procedures, patients reported symptom burden and functioning levels at each hospital visit using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and the BC-specific module (QLQ-BR-23). Growth mixture modeling (GMM) analysis was used to differentiate potential subgroups of individuals with similar longitudinal symptom patterns, i.e., symptom trajectories (Q1). With this approach, groups experiencing persistent, highly distressing cancer- and treatment-related late effects (LEs) may be identified. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used for Q2 and logistic regression analysis for Q3.

RESULTS

GMM identified two relatively parallel trajectories across the tested symptoms: The majority of the sample exhibited a low-burden symptom trajectory (74.4-89.2%) and a minority by a high-burden symptom trajectory (10.8-25.6%). LCA revealed that approximately one in five women (18.8%) were likely to be members of the high-burden symptom trajectory across all tested symptoms. In addition to a high probability of being burdened over time across multiple symptoms, these women were also characterized by poorer self-reported physical and social functioning.

CONCLUSION

A substantial minority followed a high-burden symptom trajectory for several years following BC treatment. Associations were found in trajectory classification across symptoms, indicating that cancer-related LEs appear in clusters of multiple concurrent symptoms.

Trajectories of fatigue in cancer patients during psychological care

OBJECTIVE

Psycho-oncological institutions offer specialized care for cancer patients. Little is known how this care might impact fatigue. This study aimed to identify fatigue trajectories during psychological care, examined factors distinguishing these trajectories and predicted fatigue severity after nine months of psychological care.

DESIGN

Naturalistic, longitudinal study of 238 cancer patients receiving psycho-oncological care in the Netherlands. Data were collected before initiation of psychological care (T1) and three (T2) and nine months (T3) afterwards. Latent class growth analysis, repeated measure analyses (RMA) and linear regression analysis were performed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Fatigue severity: Checklist Individual Strength.

RESULTS

Three fatigue trajectories were identified: high- (30%), moderate- (62%) and low-level fatigue (8%). While statistically significant decreases in fatigue were found, this decrease was not clinically relevant. RMA showed main effects for time for fatigue trajectories on depression, anxiety, personal control and illness cognitions. Fatigue severity and physical symptoms at T1, but not demographic or clinical factors, were predictive of fatigue severity at T3.

CONCLUSIONS

Fatigue is very common during psycho-oncological care, and notably not clinically improving. As symptoms of fatigue, depression, anxiety and physical symptoms often cluster, supplementary fatigue treatment should be considered when it is decided to treat other symptoms first.

Contribution of Chronic Fatigue to Psychosocial Status and Quality of Life in Spanish Women Diagnosed with Endometriosis

AIM

To analyze the levels of chronic fatigue in Spanish women with endometriosis and its relationship with their psychosocial status and quality of life (QoL).

METHODS

A total of 230 Spanish women with a clinical diagnosis of endometriosis were recruited. Chronic fatigue (Piper Fatigue Scale) and pelvic pain (Numeric Rating Scale) were evaluated. An on-line battery of validated scales was used to assess psychosocial status [Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Scale for Mood Assessment, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index, Female Sexual Function Index and Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey] and QoL [Endometriosis-Health Profile questionnaire-30]. Associations between fatigue and both psychosocial and QoL outcomes were explored through multivariate regression models.

RESULTS

One-third and one-half of women showed moderate and severe fatigue, respectively. Fatigue was associated with higher anxiety and depression, poorer sleep quality, poorer sexual functioning, worse gastrointestinal health, higher catastrophizing thoughts, higher anger/hostility scores and lower QoL (p-values < 0.050). Moreover, fatigue and catastrophizing thoughts showed a mediating effect on the association between pelvic pain and QoL.

CONCLUSION

This work reveals the important role of fatigue in the association between pain, psychosocial status, and QoL of Spanish women with endometriosis.