Study on potential relation between stress and tumor aggressiveness

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Stress is associated with the aggressiveness of breast cancer, according to a study presented here at the Fourth American Association for Cancer Research Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities.

The cross-sectional study looked at the potential relation between stress and tumor aggressiveness in the human population. Researchers found that patients with greater levels of fear, anxiety, or social isolation were more likely to have aggressive tumors.

“What we found, very generally, was that there was an association,” Garth Rauscher, PhD, associate professor of epidemiology at the School of Public Health at University of Illinois at Chicago, told*.* “Patients who reported greater levels of stress were more likely to have high-grade, more aggressive tumors. They were also more likely to have tumors that lack hormone receptors.”

During an interview 2 to 3 months after diagnosis, black and Hispanic patients with breast cancer reported higher levels of stress than white patients, Dr. Rauscher said.

The study looked at 989 patients recently diagnosed breast cancer: 397 non-Hispanic whites, 411 non-Hispanic blacks, and 181 Hispanics.

Ref and Read more: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/750283?sssdmh=dm1.720622&src=nldne

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