Mechanisms of Radiation Induced Fatigue in Cancer

描述(由申请人提供)：本研究提案的总体目标 是阐明辐射引起的疲劳的基本机制 局限性乳腺癌或前列腺癌患者，关注心理 以及可能导致疲劳的免疫因素 治疗。我们小组进行的初步研究发现 与乳腺癌患者疲劳相关的心理和免疫参数 幸存者，包括几个免疫激活的标志物。试行测试将 首先进行以确定这些免疫参数中的哪些是 受放射治疗的影响。研究的主要阶段将包括 150例乳腺癌和前列腺癌的前瞻性纵向检查 接受外照射治疗的患者。主题将是 从加州大学洛杉矶分校放射肿瘤学诊所招募，将进行评估 治疗开始前的心理和免疫学，每两周一次 在治疗期间和三个较长期的随访中进行积分。具体的 这项研究的目的是：1)确定免疫系统的变化 放射治疗引起的疲劳与疲劳的变化有关，2) 评价心理社会因素作为高血压的预测和相关因素的作用 3)评价受照部位和受照部位的辐射疲劳效应。 关于疲劳的治疗体积，以及4)识别疲劳的个体 治疗后不缓解，并确定急性与更多的相关性 耐得住的疲劳。从这个项目中获得的信息将推动我们的 了解辐射引起的疲劳，从而为 制定干预措施，帮助管理和减少这一问题 提高接受放射治疗的癌症患者的生活质量。 拟议的研究项目将加强候选人现有的研究 健康心理学和心理神经免疫学方面的技能，并促进 发展癌症学术生涯所需的新技能 防控。同时还有一个有针对性的说教计划 指导，这个项目将使候选人准备成为一个完整的 癌症预防和控制领域的独立行为科学家 研究。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The broad goal of this research proposal is to elucidate the basic mechanisms underlying radiation-induced fatigue in patients with localized breast or prostate cancer, focusing on psychological and immunological factors that may contribute to fatigue during and after treatment. Preliminary studies conducted by our group have identified psychological and immune parameters associated with fatigue in breast cancer survivors, including several markers of immune activation. Pilot testing will first be conducted to determine which of these immune parameters are influenced by radiation treatment. The main phase of the study will involve a prospective, longitudinal examination of 150 breast and prostate cancer patients receiving external beam radiation therapy. Subjects will be recruited from the UCLA Radiation Oncology Clinic and will be assessed psychologically and immunologically before treatment onset, at biweekly time points during treatment, and at three longer-term follow-ups. The specific aims of the study are: 1) to determine whether changes in the immune system induced by radiation therapy are associated with changes in fatigue, 2) to evaluate the role of psychosocial factors as predictors and correlates of radiation-induced fatigue, 3) to evaluate the effects of irradiated site and treatment volume on fatigue, and 4) to identify individuals whose fatigue does not remit following treatment and determine the correlates of acute vs. more enduring fatigue. Information gained from this project will advance our understanding of radiation-induced fatigue, thereby paving the way for the development of interventions to help manage and reduce this problem and improve quality of life for cancer patients receiving radiation therapy. The proposed research project will enhance the candidate's existing research skills in health psychology and psychoneuroimmunology and promote the development of new skills necessary for an academic career in cancer prevention and control. Together with a targeted program of didactic instruction, this project will prepare the candidate to become a fully independent behavioral scientist in the field of cancer prevention and control research.