Abstract 557P
Background
Survivors of cancer frequently experience cancer-related fatigue (CRF) at any stages of the disease. The intensity, duration, and incapacity to be relieved by rest set this fatigue apart. It has more adverse effect on functioning and quality of life over the years after treatment. Nearly 65% of cancer patients experience it. This kind of fatigue was strongly linked with interleukin (IL)-6, a circulating indicator of inflammation.
Methods
The effects of psycho-educational therapy on 124 (solid and non-solid) cancer survivors were compared to a control group in an observational cohort prospective study conducted at Moewardi General Hospital from June 1 to December 31, 2022, with pre- and post-testing. Serum levels of IL-6, an inflammatory marker for fatigue related to cancer, were measured before and after a six-month course of treatment. The Human Interleukin-6 Immunoassay (Quantikine) kit was used to measure the amount of IL-6 in the serum. The Wilcoxon test was employed for data analysis. Using the Mann-Whitney test, the difference in serum IL-6 levels between the treatment and control groups was investigated.
Results
The mean serum level of IL-6 decreased in cancer survivors acquiring psycho-educational therapy (p = 0.001, with p < 0.05). However, the control group had an increase in the mean serum levels of IL-6 (p = 0.003, suggesting p < 0.05). The mean IL-6 serum level before and after psycho-educational therapy group was 64.86 pg/ml and 28.37 pg/ml, respectively, with a significant change (p = 0.032, which is p < 0.05). The pre- and post-study mean IL-6 serum levels in the control group did not differ significantly, with pre-study mean = 56.83 pg/ml and post-study mean = 64.74 pg/ml (p = 0.884; p > 0.005).
Conclusions
This psycho-educational therapy would result in a considerable reduction in fatigue due to cancer, by reducing the levels of circulating IL-6 inflammatory indicators.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.