title: A systematic review of the association between immunogenomic markers and cancer-related fatigue.
abstract: Fatigue, which is one of the most commonly reported symptoms in cancer, can negatively impact the functional status and the health-related quality of life of individuals. This paper systematically reviews 34 studies to determine patterns of associations between immunogenomic markers and levels of cancer-related fatigue (CRF). Findings from the longitudinal studies revealed that elevated fatigue symptoms especially of women with early stages of breast cancer were associated with high levels of neutrophil/monocyte, IL-1ra, and IL-6 during radiation therapy; high levels of CD4+, IL-1β, and IL-6 with stressing stimuli; high levels of IL-1β during chemotherapy; low NK cell levels after chemotherapy; and presence of homozygous IL-6 and TNF alleles. In the cross-sectional studies, associations between levels of fatigue and immune/inflammatory markers were not consistently found, especially when covariates such as BMI, ethnicity, menopausal status, and educational level were controlled in the statistical analyses. However, a number of genomic markers were observed to be elevated mostly in fatigued breast cancer survivors in the cross-sectional studies. Gaps in knowledge and recommendations for future research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Building 10, Room 2-1339, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. saliganl@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Saligan
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000276:immunology*; D023281:Genomics; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017741:Survivors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D005819:Genetic Markers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein