Relationship between serum cortisol level and cancer-related fatigue
10.3969/j.issn.1000-8179.20131634
- VernacularTitle:恶性肿瘤患者血清皮质醇激素变化致癌因性疲乏及其机制研究
- Author:
Zhongxing LI
;
Denghai MI
;
Fang YANG
;
Zhizhen WEN
;
Xiaorong LIU
;
Yongxiang WANG
;
Weiwei REN
;
Zheng LI
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
cancer;
cancer-related fatigue;
cortisol;
ACTH
- From:
Chinese Journal of Clinical Oncology
2014;(17):1089-1093
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the relationship between cancer-related fatigue and cortisol in cancer patients and elucidate the underlying mechanism. Methods:A total of 80 cancer cases were divided into two groups:fatigue group (50 cases with cancer-related fatigue) and non-fatigue group (30 cases without fatigue). The scores were evaluated through the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form (MFSI-SF) and the Fatigue Symptom Inventory (FSI) report. Serum specimens were examined through electrochemiluminesence immunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum cholesterol was examined through the CHOD-PAP method, and serum total protein and albumin were determined via the Biuret method. Agarose gel electrophoresis was conducted to determine alpha 2 globulin ratio and to calculate serum alpha 2 globulin concentration. Results: The cortisol level in the fatigue group was significantly lower than that in the non-fatigue group[(119.68±5.34) nmol/L vs. (163.45± 31.49) nmol/L, P<0.05], and the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) level in the fatigue group was significantly higher than that in the non-fatigue group [(104.50 ± 17.15) ng/L vs. (51.43±13.24) ng/L, P<0.05]. Cortisol negatively correlated with MFSI-SF (r=-0.867, P<0.001) but positively correlated with ACTH (r=0.809, P<0.001). Furthermore, cortisol negatively correlated with FSI (r=-0.747, P<0.001) but positively correlated with ACTH (r=0.70, P<0.001). The levels of serum cholesterol [(1.25±0.70) mmol/L vs. (3.28±0.73) mmol/L, P<0.05], albumin[(18.24 ± 7.03) g/L vs. (37.40 ± 8.05) g/L, P<0.05], and alpha-2 globulin [(2.25±1.07) g/L vs. (5.36±1.09) g/L, P<0.05]were significantly lower in the fatigue group than in the non-fatigue group. Conclusion:The patients with cancer-related fatigue exhibited increased MFSI-SF score, decreased serum cortisol level, and enhanced ACTH level. The low serum cortisol levels caused a disorder in the serum ACTH and cancer-related fatigue of malignant tumor patients. The mechanism underlying the reduction in serum cortisol level correlated with the insufficient amounts of serum cholesterol, the composite material of cortisols, and of serum albumin, particularly alpha-2 globulin, the carrier protein of serum cholesterol.
