Stress Assessment by Salivary Biomarkers in Patients with Lung Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy

Maiko Kitajima, Yuka Noto, Umi Kudo, Mayumi Urushizaka, Toshiko Tomisawa, Chieko Itaki, Kumiko Kawasaki, Hideaki Yamabe, Akihito Hayashi, Shingo Takanashi

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hirosaki University Hospital, Hirosaki, Japan..
Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan.

DOI: 10.4236/jct.2012.32017                

Abstract

Background: It is important for medical staffs to understand the state of stress of patients with cancer. The authors investigated stress assessment in patients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Materials and Method: Salivary cortisol and α-amylase were measured as stress markers before and after chemotherapy in 10 patients. Emotional status was assessed using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire, and Quality of Life (QOL) was assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung (FACT-L) questionnaire. Results: No significant differences were found between the before and after chemotherapy in salivary levels of cortisol or α-amylase, the POMS and QOL scores. The salivary cortisol levels correlated with the POMS subscales of anger-hostility, and confusion. A negative correlation was observed between the salivary cortisol level and the QOL full score. The FACT-L full score correlated with the POMS subscales of depression-dejection, fatigue, and confusion. Conclusions: Measurements of salivary stress markers are noninvasive and may be useful for assessing the stress state of the patients

Keywords

Stress; Lung Cancer; Chemotherapy; Cortisol; QOL

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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