HEALING TOUCH IN ADVANCED CERVICAL CANCER PATIENTS

该子项目是利用 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源。子项目和 研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得主要资金， 因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。所列机构为 研究中心，而研究中心不一定是研究者所在的机构。 虽然大部分美国人报告使用替代疗法，但几乎没有实质性的实证研究来检查许多替代疗法的有效性，也没有明确了解这些治疗可能产生效果的假定机制。 治疗触摸（HT）是一种由美国国立卫生研究院分类为“生物场”治疗的疗法，因为其效果被认为是操纵患者身体周围的假设“能量场”的结果。 虽然HT经常被接受化疗和放疗的癌症患者用作补充治疗以减少治疗的毒副作用并维持免疫活性，但尚未研究这种治疗在癌症化疗和放疗期间的作用。 此外，对HT可能起作用的生理机制知之甚少。 最近的一项荟萃分析表明，HT对健康和生理参数的影响相对较大，即使是短暂的治疗。 本研究旨在检查HT对晚期宫颈癌患者细胞免疫功能的影响和治疗的短期副作用，这些患者正在接受标准的5周外部放射治疗和同步化疗，然后进行放射植入。 虽然联合化疗和放射治疗在70%的病例中具有潜在的治愈性，但许多患者都经历了放射的急性和晚期副作用。 据报道，在强辐射后也会出现严重的免疫损害。 确定干预措施，可以减少副作用，并帮助维持免疫能力的晚期宫颈癌患者接受治疗是一个关键的健康问题。 目前还没有数据表明治疗触摸对接受化疗和放疗的癌症患者的免疫功能的影响。 因此，本研究设计为II期探索性试验，以确定是否存在此类免疫效应，如果存在，哪些免疫参数最可能受到影响。 治疗触摸对情绪和治疗特定的副作用的影响也将被检查。 这项研究的意义在于，它将提供HT对细胞免疫功能的各种参数的影响（如果有的话）的初步数据，作用机制的信息，以及影响的程度是否足够大，足以在未来的III期疗效试验中进行检查。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Although a large percent of the U.S. population reports using alternative therapies, there is little substantive empirical research examining effectiveness of many alternative modalities, nor is there a clear understanding of putative mechanisms whereby such treatments may have their effects. Healing touch (HT) is a therapy classified by the NIH as a "biofield" therapy as its effects are proposed to be the result of manipulation of hypothesized "energy fields" around the body of a patient. Although HT is frequently used as a complementary treatment by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation to reduce toxic side effects of treatment and to maintain immunocompetence, effects of this treatment during cancer chemotherapy and radiation have not been investigated. Additionally, little is known about physiological mechanisms by which HT may work. A recent meta-analysis has demonstrated relatively large effects of HT on well-being and on physiological parameters, even from brief treatments. This study is designed to examine effects of HT on cellular immune function and short-term side effects of treatment among women with advanced cervical cancer who are receiving a standard 5-week course of external radiation therapy and concurrent chemotherapy followed by radiation implants. Although combined chemotherapy and radiation treatment is potentially curative in 70% of cases, many patients experience both acute and late side effects of radiation. Severe immune compromise has also been reported following intensive radiation. Identification of interventions that could reduce side effects and help maintain immunocompetence in advanced cervical cancer patients undergoing treatment is a critical health problem. There are no data on the effects of healing touch on immune function among cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. Therefore, this study is designed as a phase II exploratory trial to determine whether such immune effects exist, and if so, what immune parameters are most likely to be affected. Effects of healing touch on mood and treatment-specific side effects will also be examined. The significance of this study is that it will provide preliminary data on the impact, if any, of HT on various parameters of cellular immune function, information on mechanisms of action, and whether the magnitude of the impact is large enough to be of sufficient clinical significance to be examined in future phase III efficacy trials.