Plasma catecholamines levels in oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients: correlation to anxiety symptons and its influence on the disease prognosis

Abstract

Studies have shown that chronic stress-related hormones such as catecholamines might influence cancer progression. However, little is known about catecholamines influence on the oral and oropharyngeal cancer prognosis. The goal of this study is to assess if the plasma catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine) levels are correlated to anxiety symptons in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cells carcinoma (SCC) patients and its influence on the prognostic factors. The sample will be composed of 100 oral SCC patients, 70 patients oropharyngeal SCC, 100 oral leucoplakia patients and 100 healthy volunteers (without cancer or leucoplakia). Clinical variables as age, sex, tumor location, tobacoo and alcohol intake and clinical staging will be recorded. Peripheral blood will be collected from the patients and volunteers and the plasma will be isolated. The plasma norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine levels will be measured by Liquid Chromatography of High Performance (LCHP). The psychological levels of anxiety before treatment will be investigated by Beck`s Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Specific statistical tests will be applied to analyse the difference in hormonal levels among the groups, their correlation to anxiety levels and clinicopathological variables and their influence on the cancer prognosis. The results may provide new evidences regarding influence of the psychological stress-related hormones on the head and neck cancer progression. (AU)