Inflammation linked to fatigue after radiotherapy

Patients who experience fatigue during radiotherapy for breast or prostate cancer may be reacting to activation of the proinflammatory cytokine network, a known inflammatory pathway, according to researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles.

In patients with early-stage breast and prostate cancer, there was a strong connection between radiotherapy and fatigue.

Also, increases in serum markers of cytokine activity were linked with fatigue (Clin Can Res online, August 18, 2009).