No abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in industrialized countries. Chemoprevention is a promising approach, but studies demonstrating their usefulness in large populations are still needed. Among several compounds with chemopreventive ability, cyclooxygenase inhibitors have received particular attention. However, these agents are not without side effects, which must be weighed against their beneficial actions. Early diagnosis is critical in the management of CRC patients, because, in early stages, surgery is curative in >90% of cases. If diagnosis occurs at stages II and III, which is often the case, neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy before surgery are, in a few cases, recommended. Because of the high risk of recurrence in advanced cancers, chemotherapy is maintained after tumor resection. Chemotherapy is also indicated when the patient has metastases and in advanced cancer located in the rectum. In the last decade, the use of anticancer drugs in monotherapy or in combined regimens has markedly increased the survival of patients with CRC at stages III and IV. Although the rate of success is higher than in other gastrointestinal tumors, adverse effects and development of chemoresistance are important limitations to pharmacological therapy. Genetic profiling regarding mechanisms of chemoresistance are needed to carry out individualized prediction of the lack of effectiveness of pharmacological regimens. This would minimize side effects and prevent the selection of aggressive, cross-resistant clones, as well as avoiding undesirable delays in the use of the most efficient therapeutic approaches to treat these patients.

Cancer-related fatigue and pain after surgery are the most frequent and most incapacitating cancer-related symptoms after breast cancer treatment. Genetic influence of cancer-related fatigue and pain has not been previously investigated. Our aim was to examine the influence of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met genotypes on cancer-related fatigue, post-mastectomy pain, and pressure pain hypersensitivity in breast cancer survivors. One-hundred and twenty-eight (n = 128) breast cancer survivors who were treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy participated in this study. After amplifying Val158Met polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction, COMT genotype was divided into Val/Val, valine/methionine (Val/Met), or Met/Met. The Piper fatigue scale (PFS) was used to assess cancer-related fatigue. Neck and shoulder/axillary pain intensity was assessed with a numerical pain rate scale (0-10). Finally, pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were assessed bilaterally over the C5-C6 zygapophyseal joints, deltoid muscles, second metacarpal, and tibialis anterior muscles. Breast cancer survivors carrying the Met/Met genotype reported higher levels of fatigue (all subscales, P < 0.001), higher neck pain intensity, and lower PPT over C5-C6 joints and deltoid muscles (all, P < 0.001) relative to those with Val/Met or Val/Val genotypes. The results suggest that breast cancer survivors carrying the Met/Met genotype exhibit higher fatigue, neck pain, and pressure pain hypersensitivity over the neck and shoulder area. This study is important because it strives to understand the factors that predispose some breast cancer survivors to more cancer-related fatigue and increased pain sensitivity.

The purpose of the present paper was to evaluate the effects of an 8-week multimodal program focused on core stability exercises and recovery massage with DVD support for a 6-month period in physical and psychological outcomes in breast cancer survivors. A randomized controlled clinical trial was performed. Seventy-eight (n = 78) breast cancer survivors were assigned to experimental (core stability exercises plus massage-myofascial release) and control (usual health care) groups. The intervention period was 8 weeks. Mood state, fatigue, trunk curl endurance, and leg strength were determined at baseline, after the last treatment session, and at 6 months of followup. Immediately after treatment and at 6 months, fatigue, mood state, trunk curl endurance, and leg strength exhibited greater improvement within the experimental group compared to placebo group. This paper showed that a multimodal program focused on core stability exercises and massage reduced fatigue, tension, depression, and improved vigor and muscle strength after intervention and 6 months after discharge.

An 8-week multidimensional program including strengthening exercises, and massage as major components was effective for improving neck and shoulder pain and reducing widespread pressure hyperalgesia in breast cancer survivors compared with usual care treatment.