Longitudinal Associations Between Inflammatory Biomarkers and Fatigue in Patients With Colorectal Cancer: A...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Cancer Survivorship

Background:

• Fatigue is a common and persistent side effect for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, affecting up to 90% during chemotherapy and 30% post-treatment.
• Understanding the biological underpinnings of cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the longitudinal associations between specific inflammatory markers and fatigue levels in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) up to three years post-surgery.
• To identify potential biomarkers that predict persistent fatigue in CRC survivors.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study (ColoCare) included patients with Stage I-IV CRC.
• Fatigue was assessed using the EORTC-QLQ-C30 questionnaire, and 16 inflammatory markers were measured from blood samples at multiple time points up to 36 months post-surgery.
• Linear mixed-effects models and linear regression analyses were employed to examine the relationships between inflammatory markers and fatigue.

Main Results:

• Higher mean levels of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) were significantly associated with increased fatigue over time.
• Inflammatory markers IL-4, IL-17A, and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) at 3-9 months post-surgery were nominally associated with higher fatigue levels at 3 years post-surgery.
• Fatigue levels peaked at 3-9 months post-surgery, with women reporting higher fatigue than men.

Conclusions:

• Elevated levels of specific inflammatory biomarkers are associated with persistent fatigue in colorectal cancer patients up to three years after diagnosis.
• These inflammatory markers may serve as predictive indicators for patients at risk of developing chronic fatigue.
• Further research into these biomarkers as potential therapeutic targets for managing cancer-related fatigue is warranted.