Symptom cluster research is an emerging area in the field of oncology symptom management. While an increase in knowledge about symptom clusters has occurred in the past seven years, a number of outstanding issues and questions remain. The overall goal of this grant application is to further our understanding of the occurrence and effects of symptom clusters in oncology patients. Specifically, this study will address two important aspects of symptom cluster research, namely 1) the identification of symptom clusters in oncology outpatients who are receiving chemotherapy (CTX) AND 2) the identification of subgroups of oncology outpatients based on their experience with four highly prevalent symptoms (i.e., pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depression). Based on five preliminary studies, we will attempt to identify the genomic markers for the different patient subgroups identified in part 2 of this study. Patients (n=1786 to have a final sample of 1500) with breast, lung, colon, and ovarian cancer who will receive their second or third cycle of CTX will be enrolled in this longitudinal study. Patients will complete self-report questionnaires a total of six times over 2 cycles of CTX to evaluate for the number and types of symptom clusters and for changes in symptom clusters over time. In addition, cluster analysis procedures will be employed to create subgroups of patients based on their experience with the symptoms of pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance and depression. Based on our previous research we anticipate that two subgroups of patients will be identified (i.e., patients who experience high level of all four symptoms (~10. percent of the sample) and patients who experience low levels of all four symptoms (4.3 percent of the sample). A two stage genome wide association study will be done with the DNA from these two subgroups to identify genomic markers for these two distinct groups of patients. Public Health Relevance: Patients undergoing cancer treatment, particularly chemotherapy (CTX) rarely experience a single symptom. New research findings suggest that symptoms may occur in groups or clusters and have negative effects on patient outcomes (example, functional status and quality of life). In addition, some patients may have a genetic predisposition to experience symptoms with a greater or lesser severity. This study will evaluate for the occurrence and changes in symptom clusters in patients receiving CTX for breast, lung, colon, or ovarian cancer. In addition, we will attempt to identify genetic markers in patients with different symptom experiences.

Public Health Relevance

Patients undergoing cancer treatment, particularly chemotherapy (CTX) rarely experience a single symptom. New research findings suggest that symptoms may occur in groups or clusters and have negative effects on patient outcomes (example, functional status and quality of life). In addition, some patients may have a genetic predisposition to experience symptoms with a greater or lesser severity. This study will evaluate for the occurrence and changes in symptom clusters in patients receiving CTX for breast, lung, colon, or ovarian cancer. In addition, we will attempt to identify genetic markers in patients with different symptom experiences.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA134900-05
Application #
8469829
Study Section
Nursing Science: Adults and Older Adults Study Section (NSAA)
Program Officer
O'Mara, Ann M
Project Start
2009-07-22
Project End
2015-05-31
Budget Start
2013-06-01
Budget End
2014-05-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$1,031,035
Indirect Cost
$357,082
Name
University of California San Francisco
Department
Other Health Professions
Type
Schools of Nursing
DUNS #
094878337
City
San Francisco
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94143
Tantoy, Ilufredo Y; Cooper, Bruce A; Dhruva, Anand et al. (2018) Quality of life of patients with gastrointestinal cancers undergoing chemotherapy. Qual Life Res 27:1865-1876
Sullivan, Carmen W; Leutwyler, Heather; Dunn, Laura B et al. (2018) Stability of Symptom Clusters in Patients With Breast Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy. J Pain Symptom Manage 55:39-55
Papachristou, Nikoloas; Barnaghi, Payam; Cooper, Bruce A et al. (2018) Congruence Between Latent Class and K-Modes Analyses in the Identification of Oncology Patients With Distinct Symptom Experiences. J Pain Symptom Manage 55:318-333.e4
Utne, Inger; Løyland, Borghild; Grov, Ellen Karine et al. (2018) Distinct attentional function profiles in older adults receiving cancer chemotherapy. Eur J Oncol Nurs 36:32-39
Tantoy, Ilufredo Y; Cooper, Bruce A; Dhruva, Anand et al. (2018) Changes in the Occurrence, Severity, and Distress of Symptoms in Patients With Gastrointestinal Cancers Receiving Chemotherapy. J Pain Symptom Manage 55:808-834
Wright, Fay; Dunn, Laura B; Paul, Steven M et al. (2018) Morning Fatigue Severity Profiles in Oncology Outpatients Receiving Chemotherapy. Cancer Nurs :
Singh, Komal P; Dhruva, Anand A; Flowers, Elena et al. (2018) A review of the literature on the relationships between genetic polymorphisms and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 121:51-61
Wong, Melisa L; Paul, Steven M; Mastick, Judy et al. (2018) Characteristics Associated With Physical Function Trajectories in Older Adults With Cancer During Chemotherapy. J Pain Symptom Manage 56:678-688.e1
Ward Sullivan, Carmen; Leutwyler, Heather; Dunn, Laura B et al. (2018) A review of the literature on symptom clusters in studies that included oncology patients receiving primary or adjuvant chemotherapy. J Clin Nurs 27:516-545
Flowers, Elena; Miaskowski, Christine; Conley, Yvette et al. (2018) Differential expression of genes and differentially perturbed pathways associated with very high evening fatigue in oncology patients receiving chemotherapy. Support Care Cancer 26:739-750

Showing the most recent 10 out of 35 publications