Differences in Emotional Awareness Moderate Cytokine-Symptom Associations Among Breast Cancer Survivors.

ABSTRACT: Cancer survivors have elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines, which could be associated with cancer-related symptoms. Given that proinflammatory cytokines heighten negative affect by directly affecting the brain, we explored these direct associations and whether differences in levels of emotional awareness moderate the associations between proinflammatory cytokines and cancer-related symptoms. This cross-sectional, secondary analysis of baseline data was collected from 162 female breast cancer survivors (aged 36-70 years), who were enrolled 6 ± 4 months after completing cancer treatment. We tested cytokines in serum (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-β) and assessed depression, cancer-related fatigue, pain intensity, and pain interference. Emotional awareness was assesse

SUBMITTER: Harel K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11745907 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature