title: State of the science: stress, inflammation, and cancer.
abstract: Diagnosis with a life-threatening illness such as cancer is almost universally experienced as stressful. The construct of stress has received substantial consideration as a correlate or predictor of psychological and health outcomes (Andersen et al., 2004) and has often been conceptualized within a stress and coping framework (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). Biobehavioral factors have long been thought to affect many health processes. The relationship between inflammation of stress and cancer originated centuries ago and is now recognized as a facilitating characteristic of cancer (Mantovani, Allavena, Sica, & Balkwill, 2008). In addition, stress and the stress response are probable mediators of the effects of psychological factors on cancer, and specifically on progression of cancer (Powell, Tarr, & Sheridan, 2013). A substantial amount of new research activity has enlightened scientists and clinicians on the neuroendocrine regulatory function of physiologic pathways in cancer growth and progression (Lutgendorf & Sood, 2011). However, in spite of considerable research over the past several decades, inconsistent data remain a challenge in establishing evidence-based pathways between behavioral risk factors and cancer initiation.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison.
authors.forename: Judith K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Payne
mesh_terms: D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005544:Forecasting; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D052138:Genes, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D026441:Mind-Body Therapies; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000276:immunology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology