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Cancer-related fatigue and chemotherapy-associated adverse effects: correlation with TNF-α, IL-1 and 17-hydroxycorticosteroids.

AIM
We sought to determine the relationship between cancer-related fatigue, chemotherapy-associated adverse effects in patients with advanced stages of cancer, and the levels of TNF-α, IL-1 and 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-HCS).


PATIENTS & METHODS
Two hundred cancer patients were recruited. They were given a Cancer Fatigue Scale survey to assess their general state of health before and after chemotherapy. Their plasma levels of TNF-α and IL-1 and urine levels of 17-HCS were also measured.


RESULTS
Increased levels of TNF-α and IL-1 are common in cancer patients. Thirty-five (17.5%) patients suffered from chemotherapy-associated adverse effects, but their plasma levels of TNF-α and IL-1 were not significantly elevated after chemotherapy. However, the urinary levels of 17-HCS levels were significantly elevated in 23 patients after chemotherapy.


CONCLUSION
Patients who had elevated urinary levels of 17-HCS before chemotherapy are accompanied by chemotherapy-associated adverse effects. Thus, elevated 17-HCS in urine could be a possible predictor for chemotherapy-associated adverse effects.