Altered Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Function: A Potential Underlying Biological Pathway for Multiple Concurrent Symptoms in Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer

Objective Patients with advanced cancer commonly experience multiple symptoms that present as groups or clusters. The present study aimed to examine whether hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction underlies the concurrent multiple symptoms in patients with advanced cancer. Methods Patients' cortisol levels were determined in saliva samples collected after awakening (0, 30, and 60 minutes after awakening) and at nighttime (21:00–22:00 PM) from 46 patients with lung cancer (15.2% women), with a mean (standard deviation) age of 64.3 (9.2) years and 47 healthy participants (53.2% women; age = 62.0 [4.6] years). Cancer-related symptoms were measured using the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI). Results Compared with healthy participants, patients showed a significantly reduced cortisol awakening response (F(1,364) = 46.2, p
Source: Psychosomatic Medicine - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: research