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Immune responses to guided imagery during breast cancer treatment.

AbstractBACKGROUND: The use of relaxation and guided imagery to reduce stress and improve immune function has great potential benefits for patients with breast cancer. METHODS: This pilot study used a pretest-posttest experimental design with 28 breast cancer patients, aged 25 to 75 years, with the diagnosis of stage 0, 1, or 2 breast cancer. The experimental group received a relaxation and guided imagery intervention and the control group received standard care. The effects of the intervention on immune function were measured by natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity and IL-2-activated NK cell activity prior to surgery and 4 weeks postsurgery. NK cell activity was measured using a 15-hr incubation chromium release assay. Cytotoxicity of NK cells was measured against chromium-labeled K-562 target cells. IL-2 was used to enhance reactivity of NK cells against tumor cells. After incubation for 15 hr, cytotoxicity was measured through the release of radioactive chromium. RESULTS: Significant differences between groups were found at 4 weeks postsurgery. T-tests showed increased NK cell cytotoxicity for the intervention group at 100:1, 50:1, and 25:1 effector cell: target cell ratios (E:T) (p < .01 to p < .05) and increased activation for IL-2 at 100:1, 50:1, 25:1, and 12.5:1 (E:T) (p < .01 to p < .05) for the intervention group as compared to the control group. DISCUSSION: These findings suggest that a relaxation intervention such as guided imagery could have an effect on NK cell cytotoxicity and NK cell cytotoxicity after activation with IL-2 in patients undergoing surgery for breast cancer.
AuthorsCecile A Lengacher, Mary P Bennett, Lois Gonzalez, Danielle Gilvary, Charles E Cox, Alan Cantor, Paul B Jacobsen, Chiu Yang, Julie Djeu (Affiliation: University of South Florida College of Nursing, Tampa, FL 33612-4766, USA. clengach at health.usf.edu)
JournalBiological research for nursing (Biol Res Nurs) Vol. 9 Issue 3 Pg. 205-14 (Jan 2008) ISSN: 1099-8004 United States
PMID18077773 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • Interleukin-2
Topics
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Breast Neoplasms (immunology, psychology, therapy)
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Imagery (Psychotherapy)
  • Interleukin-2 (immunology)
  • Killer Cells, Natural (immunology)
  • Middle Aged