title: Relationship of inflammatory markers and pain in patients with head and neck cancer prior to anticancer therapy.
abstract: Pain is a common symptom in patients with cancer, including those with head and neck cancer (HNC). While studies suggest an association between chronic inflammation and pain, levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), have not been correlated with pain in HNC patients who are not currently undergoing anticancer treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between these inflammatory markers and perceived pain in HNC patients prior to anticancer therapy. The study group consisted of 127 HNC patients and 9 healthy controls. Pain was assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), and serum levels of CRP and TNF-α were determined using the particle-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay (PETIA) and ELISA techniques, respectively. Patients experiencing pain had significantly higher levels of CRP (P<0.01) and TNF-α (P<0.05) compared with controls and with patients reporting no pain. There were significantly positive associations between pain, CRP level, and tumor stage. This is the first study to report a positive association between perceived pain and CRP in HNC patients at the time of diagnosis. The current findings suggest important associations between pain and inflammatory processes in HNC patients, with potential implications for future treatment strategies.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brasil.
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brasil.
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: von Zeidler
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brasil.
authors.forename: A Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Lamas
authors.affiliation: Divisão de Cabeça e Pescoço, Hospital Santa Rita de Cássia, Vitória, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: J R V de
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Podestá
authors.affiliation: Divisão de Cabeça e Pescoço, Hospital Santa Rita de Cássia, Vitória, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sena
authors.affiliation: Divisão de Cabeça e Pescoço, Hospital Santa Rita de Cássia, Vitória, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Divisão de Cabeça e Pescoço, Hospital Santa Rita de Cássia, Vitória, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.affiliation: Centro de Doenças Infecciosas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brasil.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Lemos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brasil.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Gouvea
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brasil.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Bissoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D061665:Time-to-Treatment; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein