The pathophysiology of cancer-related fatigue: current controversies

O'Higgins, C; Brady, Bernadette; O’Connor, Brenda I.; Walsh, Declan; Reilly, Richard B.

doi:10.1007/s00520-018-4318-7

Cited by 139 publications

(117 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Cancer-related fatigue is complex and can be influenced by treatment-related factors, and physical and emotional consequences of the diagnosis [15]. The underlying biological mechanisms of fatigue are poorly understood, but there is growing evidence that elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines plays an important role, at least in extracranial cancers [16]. Proinflammatory cytokines are either released by immune cells following infection, by the tumor itself, or by tissue damage from surgery and/or adjuvant treatment [15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perioperative fatigue in patients with diffuse glioma

et al. 2020

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Purpose Few studies have assessed fatigue in relation to glioma surgery. The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of pre-and postoperative high fatigue, perioperative changes, and factors associated with pre-and postoperative high fatigue in patients undergoing primary surgery for diffuse glioma. Methods A total of 112 adult patients were prospectively included. Patient-reported fatigue was assessed before and one month after surgery using the cancer-specific European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaire fatigue subscale. The scores were dichotomized as high fatigue (≥ 39) or low fatigue (< 39). A change in score of ≥ 10 was considered as a clinically significant change. Factors associated with pre-and postoperative high fatigue were explored in multivariable regression analyses. Results High fatigue was reported by 45% of the patients preoperatively and by 42% of the patients postoperatively. Female gender and low Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) were associated with preoperative high fatigue, while postoperative complications, low KPS and low-grade histopathology were associated with postoperative high fatigue. In total 35/92 (38%) patients reported a clinically significant improvement of fatigue scores after surgery, 36/92 (39%) patients reported a clinically significant worsening of fatigue scores after surgery, and 21/92 (23%) patients reported no clinically significant change in fatigue scores after surgery. Patients with low-grade gliomas more often reported low fatigue before surgery and high fatigue after surgery, while patients with high-grade gliomas more often reported high fatigue before surgery and low fatigue after surgery. Conclusions Our findings indicate that fatigue is a common symptom in patients with diffuse glioma, both pre-and postoperatively. Perioperative changes were frequently seen. This is important knowledge when informing patients before and after surgery.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perioperative fatigue in patients with diffuse glioma

et al. 2020

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“…An increased general fatigue is widely reported in cancer survivors and has been already described in several cancer types. 28,29 According O'Higgins, et al (2018) 30 a cascade of biochemical, physiological, and psychological dysregulation of important biological systems contribute to cancer-related fatigue. Actually, a greater general fatigue is reported by cancer survivors even when muscle functions are preserved, 15 suggesting that disease may play a role in general fatigue more than treatment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fatigue and Muscle Function in Prostate Cancer Survivors Receiving Different Treatment Regimens

Chaves

Bottaro

Mota

et al. 2019

Rev Bras Med Esporte

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Introduction: Prostate cancer is the most prevalent neoplastic disease in men. After diagnosis, different treatment regimens are proposed based on the stage of the cancer. These treatments affect physical and muscle function, quality of life, and prognosis differently. Objectives: To assess fatigue, muscle strength, muscle thickness, and muscle quality in prostate cancer survivors undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Methods: Ten ADT patients, eight non-ADT patients and 18 healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study. Perceived fatigue was assessed through the 20-item Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory. Muscle thickness and quality (e.g., echo intensity) were assessed through B-mode ultrasound. Muscle strength and work capacity were assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer. The groups were compared with one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni adjustment. Results: Muscle thickness, peak torque, and work capacity were lower in ADT than in the control group (CON) (p = 0.021; p = 0.005; p <0.001, respectively). ADT showed greater echo intensity than CON (p = 0.005) and N-ADT (p = 0.046). There were no differences between N-ADT and CON in terms of muscle thickness, peak torque, work capacity, and echo intensity (p >0.05). General fatigue was greater in both ADT (p = 0.030) and N-ADT (p = 0.047) compared to CON. Physical fatigue was greater in ADT than CON (p = 0.006). Conclusion: ADT patients showed lower levels of muscle function and greater levels of perceived fatigue than healthy control subjects. It appears that muscle function remains lower in ADT patients, even several years after treatment initiation, although this does not apply to non-ADT patients. Level of evidence II; Diagnostic Studies -Investigating a Diagnostic Test.

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“…2,3 This symptom prevails from the beginning to the end of the treatment, persisting for years and negatively influencing quality of life. [3][4][5] Cancer-related fatigue (CRF), according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, ''is a distressing, persistent and subjective sense of physical, emotional, and/or cognitive tiredness or exhaustion related to cancer or cancer treatment that is not proportional the recent activity performed and interferes with usual functioning.'' 6 This condition affects cognitive abilities, characterized by reduced motivational levels, interest, attention, and concentration, as well as memory loss, 5 leading to the impairment of physical performance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Exergaming on Muscle Strength, Pain, and Functionality of Shoulders in Cancer Patients

Oliveira

Alves

Iunes

et al. 2020

Games for Health Journal

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Objective: To compare the strength of the middle deltoid muscle by means of dynamometry and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) in participants in treatment for cancer after the practice of an exergaming protocol. Materials and Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled clinical trial. Thirty-eight voluntary participants were divided into two groups: cancer group (n = 19; age = 61.46-8.79 years; body mass index [BMI] = 28.36-4.94 kg/m 3) and control group (n = 19; age = 57.62-7.57 years; BMI = 28.06-3.74 kg/m 3), and they participated in the study. All participants performed an exergame protocol by using Xbox 360 Kinect Ò (Microsoft, Redmond) with the game Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012 two to three times per week for 20 sessions. They were evaluated through the isometric dynamometer in the middle deltoid muscle and the SPADI at three moments: preintervention (EV1), after 10 sessions (EV2), and after 20 sessions (EV3). Results: The cancer group scored higher on both the disability index, in all three evaluations, and the pain index, in EV2 and EV3, when compared with the control group. There was a significant reduction in the disability score in EV2 and EV3 when compared with EV1 in the cancer group, whereas pain was lower in EV2 and EV3 when compared with EV1 in the control group. There were no significant interevaluation or intergroup differences in the maximal isometric voluntary contraction of the deltoid muscle of both upper limbs. Conclusion: At the end of the exergaming, protocol reduced the disability of the shoulder joint of the cancer group and decreased the differences between the groups for disability and pain scores, without changing isometric force.

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The pathophysiology of cancer-related fatigue: current controversies

Cited by 139 publications

References 49 publications

Perioperative fatigue in patients with diffuse glioma

Perioperative fatigue in patients with diffuse glioma

Fatigue and Muscle Function in Prostate Cancer Survivors Receiving Different Treatment Regimens

Effect of Exergaming on Muscle Strength, Pain, and Functionality of Shoulders in Cancer Patients

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