Cancer-related fatigue and chemotherapy-associated adverse effects: correlation with TNF-α, IL-1 and 17-hydroxycorticosteroids.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine the relationship between cancer-related fatigue, chemotherapy-associated adverse effects in patients with advanced stages of cancer, and the levels of TNF-α, IL-1 and 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-HCS).


METHODS
Two hundred cancer patients were recruited. They were given a Cancer Fatigue Scale survey to assess their general state of health before and after chemotherapy. Their plasma levels of TNF-α and IL-1 and urine levels of 17-HCS were also measured.


RESULTS
Increased levels of TNF-α and IL-1 are common in cancer patients. Thirty-five (17.5%) patients suffered from chemotherapy-associated adverse effects, but their plasma levels of TNF-α and IL-1 were not significantly elevated after chemotherapy. However, the urinary levels of 17-HCS levels were significantly elevated in 23 patients after chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients who had elevated urinary levels of 17-HCS before chemotherapy are accompanied by chemotherapy-associated adverse effects. Thus, elevated 17-HCS in urine could be a possible predictor for chemotherapy-associated adverse effects.
Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
Shuyao
S
Zhang
De
D
Zeng
Yuhui
Y
Peng
Yuxian
Y
Yang
Xiaowen
X
Zhuang
Zongtai
Z
Li
Miaojun
M
Wang
Lei
L
Chen
Hao
H
Zhang
D015065:17-Hydroxycorticosteroids / Q000652:urine*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D005221:Fatigue / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000652:urine; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D015065:17-Hydroxycorticosteroids; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007375:Interleukin-1; C439524:TNF protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
17-HCS; 17-hydroxycorticosteroids; IL-1; TNF-α; cancer-related fatigue