Cortisol Rhythms Predict Head & Neck Cancer outcomes, study finds

A new pilot study has unearthed a key link between circadian rhythms and disease progression in head and neck cancer. As per the research, elevated evening cortisol levels are associated with shorter progression-free survival in these patients.

The study observed 40 head and neck cancer patients, most of whom had late-stage oral or oropharyngeal cancer. Analyzing patients' saliva samples over several days, the team found that higher evening cortisol and overall daily cortisol levels were predictive of accelerated disease progression and shorter time before the cancer started growing again.

It is pertinent to note that the researchers also found that higher levels of an inflammatory marker called interferon-gamma correlated with these disrupted cortisol rhythms, thereby suggesting that body's stress response and immune function could play a role in setting the pace of cancer spread.

These findings mirror the observations recorded in other cancer types, pointing to cortisol rhythm disruption being a key factor in head and neck cancer as well.

Although a small pilot study, the results effectively underline the need for more research on the link between circadian rhythms, inflammation, and cancer outcomes. In the future, assessing cortisol patterns could become a valuable tool for predicting prognosis and guiding treatment decisions for head and neck cancer patients.

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