Relationship of cytokines to symptom distress and symptom clusters among non-small-cell lung cancer patients receiving gefitinib treatment: A pilot study

Purpose: Several cytokines involved in the development of sickness behaviors are considered to be related to the development of cancer symptoms. However, the mechanism of cytokines' involvement in symptom relief with gefitinib treatment remains unknown. This study analyzed the relationships between single symptoms/symptom clusters and cytokines in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at pretreatment and at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after gefitinib treatment. Methods: Fifty-seven patients with NSCLC were recruited via convenience sampling from a group of thoracic oncology patients in Northern Taiwan. Research measures included the use of the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory-Taiwan form and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and generalized estimating equation analysis. Results: Positive relationships were observed between interleukin (IL)-2 and nausea (p