 |
| Research article summary (published 10 Nov 2008): |
Immuno-modulatory effects of relaxation training and guided imagery in women with locally advanced breast cancer undergoing multimodality therapy: a randomised controlled trial.
Full Abstract
Eighty women undergoing multimodality treatment for large (>4cm) or locally advanced (T3, T4, Tx, N2), breast cancers participated in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the immuno-modulatory effects of relaxation training and guided imagery. Patients underwent chemotherapy followed by surgery, radiotherapy, and hormone therapy. Those in the intervention group were taught relaxation and guided imagery. Patients kept diaries of the frequency of relaxation practice and imagery vividness. On 10 occasions during the 37 weeks following the diagnosis, blood was taken for immunological assays CD phenotyping: T cell subsets (helper, cytotoxic), natural killer (NK) and lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells, B lymphocytes and monocytes; cytotoxicity: NK and LAK cell activities; cytokines interleukin 1 beta (1beta), 2, 4 and 6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha. Significant between-group differences were found in the number of CD25+ (activated T cells) and CD56+ (LAK cell) subsets. The number of CD3+ (mature) T cells was significantly higher following chemotherapy and radiotherapy, in patients randomised to relaxation and guided imagery. Using a median split, women who rated their imagery ratings highly had elevated levels of NK cell activity at the end of chemotherapy and at follow-up. Significant correlations were obtained between imagery ratings and baseline corrected values for NK and LAK cell activity, and IL1beta. Relaxation frequency correlated with the number of CD4+ (T helper) cells, the CD4+:8+ (helper:cytotoxic) ratio, and IL1beta levels. Relaxation training and guided imagery beneficially altered putative anti-cancer host defences during and after multimodality therapy. Such changes, to the best of our knowledge, have not been previously documented in a RCT.
Author information
Author/s: Eremin, Oleg (O); Walker, Mary B (MB); Simpson, Edna (E); Heys, Steven D (SD); Ah-See, Antoine K (AK); Hutcheon, Andrew W (AW); Ogston, Keith N (KN); Sarkar, Tarun K (TK); Segar, Ashok (A); Walker, Leslie G (LG);
Affiliation: United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, United Kingdom.
Grants: (Agency:Cancer Research UK)
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Journal: Breast (Edinburgh, Scotland) (Breast), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2009-Feb; vol 18 (issue 1) : pp 17-25
Dates: Created 2009/02/16; Completed 2009/05/07;
PMID: 19008099, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 5/7/2009, IMS Date: 07 May 2009 00:00:00)
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):
Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.
This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.
MeSH headings (categories)
This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.
Related articles
This article has not been indexed for related articles as yet, however you can still use the live related article search links below.
See a large map of 100+ related articles.