QUALITY OF LIFE AND IMMUNITY DURING BREAST CANCER TREATMENT

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中的一个 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来源获得了主要资金， 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。 乳腺癌患者使用补充和替代医学（CAM）的比例高于任何其他癌症患者群体。 乳腺癌患者使用CAM的主要原因是增强免疫系统。 治疗触摸（HT）是癌症患者经常使用的CAM治疗，以减少化疗和放疗的副作用，并提高免疫力。 HT被NIH归类为“生物场”疗法，因为它的效果被认为是次要的，以操纵患者身体周围的“能量场”。 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。 然而，到目前为止，还没有关于HT在治疗期间对乳腺癌患者免疫功能影响的数据。 这是特别重要的，因为几个免疫参数显示长期抑制或改变，特别是在乳腺癌患者中联合辅助化疗和放疗后。 此外，没有关于HT对乳腺癌治疗常见副作用的影响的数据，这些副作用可能包括严重的疲劳和辐射引起的皮肤损伤。 HT潜在影响的生理机制也知之甚少。 这项研究旨在通过检查HT如何影响细胞免疫功能以及与乳腺癌治疗中两个最有问题的副作用，疲劳和辐射诱导的组织损伤相关的生物标志物来减少这一知识差距。 还将注意对疲劳和临床医生评定的皮肤损伤的主观体验的影响。 参与者将是在乳房保留手术和化疗后接受标准放疗的早期乳腺癌患者。 本研究的意义在于，它将提供以下方面的初步数据：a）在乳腺癌人群中进行该干预的可行性，B）HT对这些中间结局指标的影响（如有），c）作用机制的信息，以及d）影响的程度是否足够大，足以在未来的II期和III期剂量和疗效试验中检查其临床意义。

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. Breast cancer patients use Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in greater proportions than any other group of cancer patients. The primary reason breast cancer patients cite for use of CAM is strengthening the immune system. Healing touch (HT) is a CAM treatment frequently used by cancer patients to reduce adverse side effects of chemotherapy and radiation and to enhance immunity. HT is classified by NIH as a "biofield" therapy as its effects are proposed to be secondary to manipulation of "energy fields" around the body of a patient. A recent meta-analysis has demonstrated relatively large effects of HT on well-being and on physiological parameters, even from brief treatments. However, to date, there are no data on the effects of HT on immune function among breast cancer patients during treatment. This is particularly important as several immune parameters show long-term suppression or alteration, particularly after combined adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation among breast cancer patients. Additionally, there are no data on the effects of HT on the common side effects of breast cancer treatment which can include profound fatigue and radiation-induced skin damage. Physiological mechanisms underlying possible effects of HT are also poorly understood. This study is designed to reduce this knowledge gap by examining how HT affects cellular immune function and biomarkers related to two of the most problematic side effects of breast cancer treatment, fatigue and radiation-induced tissue damage. Effects on the subjective experience of fatigue and clinician rated skin damage will also be noted. Participants will be early stage breast cancer patients who are receiving a standard course of radiotherapy following breast conservation surgery and chemotherapy. The significance of this study is that it will provide preliminary data on a) feasiblity of this intervention in a breast cancer population, b) the impact, if any, of HT on these intermediate outcome measures, c) information on mechanisms of action, and d) whether the magnitude of the impact is large enough to be sufficient clinical significance to be examined in future Phase II and III dose and efficacy trials.