Back to Search Start Over

Fatigue and herpesvirus latency in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer

Fatigue and herpesvirus latency in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer

Authors :
William E. Carson
William B. Farrar
Christopher P. Fagundes
Janice K. Kiecolt-Glaser
William B. Malarkey
Doreen M. Agnese
Catherine M. Alfano
Ronald Glaser
Jeanette M. Bennett
Lisa D. Yee
Stephen P. Povoski
Adele M. Lipari
Source :
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 26:394-400
Publication Year :
2012
Publisher :
Elsevier BV, 2012.

Abstract

Fatigue is a notable clinical problem in cancer survivors, and understanding its pathophysiology is important. The current study sought to determine biomarkers of fatigue that exist before cancer treatment. Relationships between the expression of latent Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) and fatigue were examined in 158 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer or awaiting a positive diagnostic result. Higher CMV antibody titers, but not EBV antibody titers, were associated with a greater likelihood of being fatigued. Associations between fatigue and higher CMV antibody titers remained after controlling for alcohol use, smoking, comorbidities, depressive symptoms, age, BMI, cancer stage, and sleep problems. More sleep problems and higher levels of depressive symptoms were also associated with a greater likelihood of being fatigued. CMV antibody titers, but not EBV antibody titers, were associated with higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), but CRP was not associated with fatigue. When the cellular immune system is compromised, reactivation of latent herpesviruses may fuel chronic inflammatory responses. Prior work has suggested that fatigue may be related to inflammation and its associated sickness behaviors; accordingly, our findings may be tapping into this same physiological substrate.

Details

ISSN :
08891591
Volume :
26
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....0f2f62427b26168aa73ab41cf7e96cb8
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2011.09.014