Tired of feeling tired – The role of circulating inflammatory biomarkers and long-term cancer related fatigue in breast cancer survivors

• Published in: Breast (Edinburgh) 2021-04, Vol.56, p.103-109
• Main Authors: Maurer, T., Jaskulski, S., Behrens, S., Jung, A.Y., Obi, N., Johnson, T., Becher, H., Chang-Claude, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Breast cancer; Cancer; Cancer related fatigue; Cytokines; Fatigue; Immune system; Inflammation; Lifestyle; Original; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0960-9776; 1532-3080
• DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2021.02.008

Low-grade inflammation has been associated with cancer related fatigue (CRF). However, most studies focused on CRF during or shortly after treatment. Longitudinal studies are rare with inconsistent results. We assessed the association of inflammatory biomarkers with total CRF and all subdomains (physical, cognitive, affective) in long-term breast cancer survivors. Patients recruited between 2002 and 2005 provided information on CRF at first follow-up (FU1) (N = 1292) and second follow-up (FU2) (N = 1205), after a median of 6.2 years and 11.7 years, respectively. Associations of 11 inflammatory biomarkers with CRF at FU1 and at FU2 were assessed using linear regression models. Logistic regression models were used to compare patients fatigued at both time-points and those never fatigued (N = 932). C-reactive protein (CRP) was significantly associated with total CRF at FU1 (β = 1.47, 95%CI = 0.62–2.31, p = 0.0007), at FU2 (β = 1.98, 95 %CI = 0.96–2.99, p = 0.0001) and with persistent CRF (OR = 1.29, 95%CI = 1.13–1.47, p