Alterations in the Th1/Th2 balance in breast cancer patients using reflexology and scalp massage

Green, Victoria L.; Alexandropoulou, Afroditi; Walker, Mary B.; Walker, Andrew A.; Sharp, Donald M.; Walker, Leslie G.; Greenman, John

Abstract

The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer can adversely affect quality of life Here the aim was to determine the effects of reflexology on host defences and endocrine function in women with early breast cancer Six weeks after surgery for early breast cancer, 183 women were randomly assigned to self-initiated support (SIS), SIS plus foot reflexology, or SIS plus scalp massage Peripheral blood mononuclear cells and serum were isolated at T1 (6 weeks post surgery, baseline), T2 and T3 (4 and 10 weeks post completion of intervention, respectively) Lymphocyte phenotyping found that CD25(+) cells were significantly higher in the massage group compared with the SIS group at T3 The percentage of T cells, and more specifically the T helper subset expressing IL4, decreased significantly in the massage group compared with the SIS group at T3 This change was accompanied by an increase in the percentage of CD8(+) T cytotoxic cells expressing IFN gamma in the massage group Natural killer and lymphokine activated killer cell cytotoxicity measurements, serum levels of cortisol, prolactin and growth hormone, and flow cytometric assessment of their corresponding receptors all revealed no significant differences between the three groups of patients This study provides evidence that the immunological balance of patients can be altered in a potentially beneficial manner by massage The original trial was registered with the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Registry (ISRCTN87652313)

Citation

Green, V. L., Alexandropoulou, A., Walker, M. B., Walker, A. A., Sharp, D. M., Walker, L. G., & Greenman, J. (2010). Alterations in the Th1/Th2 balance in breast cancer patients using reflexology and scalp massage. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 1(1), 97-108. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm_00000018

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 20, 2009
• Online Publication Date: Jan 1, 2010
• Publication Date: Feb 28, 2010
• Journal: EXPERIMENTAL AND THERAPEUTIC MEDICINE
• Print ISSN: 1792-0981
• Publisher: Spandidos Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 1
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 97-108
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3892/etm_00000018
• Keywords: breast cancer complementary and alternative therapies stress immune response neuroendocrine behavioral stress-management quality-of-life alternative medicine use natural-killer-cells regulatory t-cells immune function guided imagery social support flow-cy
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/405326