Experimental study on effect of recombinant human growth hormone combined with chemotherapy on stomach neoplasms implanted in nude mice

Objective: To investigate the effect of different doses of recombined growth hormone (rhGH) on stomach neo- plasms implanted in nude mice, and its efficacy in combining with chemotherapy (flurouracil, 5-FU). Methods: Human stom- ach neoplasms model was established in nude mice. The nude mice were divided into control group, moderate-dose of rhGH group, low-dose rhGH group, 5-FU group, moderate-dose rhGH/5-FU group, and low-dose rhGH/5-FU group. The results of each group were observed after ten days. Results: After therapy, the body mass of rhGH groups was significantly increased compared with control group (P<0.05), the body mass of rhGH/5-FU groups was significantly increased compared with 5-FU group (P<0.05), but it was no significant difference between rhGH/5-FU groups and control group (P>0.05). The average tumor mass and volume of rhGH groups were not significantly increased compared with control group (P>0.05), but they were significantly reduced in 5-FU group and rhGH/5-FU groups (P<0.05). They were no significant difference between rhGH/5- FU groups and 5-FU group (P>0.05). After treatment, the percentages of S, G0/G1 and G2/M phases and proliferation index (PI) were not significantly changed in rhGH groups compared with control group (P>0.05), and the same with rhGH/5-FU groups compared with 5-FU group (P>0.05). The difference caused by dose of rhGH was not significant. Conclusion: rhGH enhances body mass, does not stimulate tumor growth, and has no adverse effects on tumor bearing nude mice. Combined with flurouracil, rhGH does not influence the efficacy of chemotherapy, and has no effect on tumor cell cycle kinetics.

Postoperative chemoradiotherapy with capecitabine and oxaliplatin vs.capecitabine for pathological stage N2 rectal cancer

Objective:Several studies have been conducted on the effects and toxicity of adding oxaliplatin to fluorouracilbased or capecitabine-based chemoradiotherapy(CRT)regimens as significantly increasing the toxic response without benefit to survival.In this study,we further explored the role of these two postoperative CRT regimens in patients with pathological stage N2 rectal cancer.Methods:This study was a subgroup analysis of a randomized clinical trial.A total of 180 patients with pathological stage N2 rectal cancer were eligible,85 received capecitabine with radiotherapy(RT),and 95 received capecitabine and oxaliplatin with RT.Patients in both groups received adjuvant chemotherapy[capecitabine and oxaliplatin(XELOX);or fluorouracil,leucovorin,and oxaliplatin(FOLFOX)]after CRT.Results:At a median follow-up of 59.2[interquartile range(IQR),34.0−96.8]months,the three-year diseasefree survival(DFS)was 53.3%and 64.9%in the control group and the experimental group,respectively[hazard ratio(HR),0.63;95%confidence interval(95%CI),0.41−0.98;P=0.04].There was no significant difference between the groups in overall survival(OS)(HR,0.62;95%CI,0.37−1.05;P=0.07),the incidence of locoregional recurrence(HR,0.62;95%CI,0.24−1.64;P=0.33),the incidence of distant metastasis(HR,0.67;95%CI,0.42−1.06;P=0.09)and grade 3−4 acute toxicities(P=0.78).For patients with survival longer than 3 years,the conditional overall survival(COS)was significantly better in the experimental group(HR,0.39;95%CI,0.16−0.96;P=0.03).Conclusions:Our results indicated that adding oxaliplatin to capecitabine-based postoperative CRT is safe and effective in patients with pathological stage N2 rectal cancer.

Prevention of metastasis to liver by using 5-FU intraperitoneal chemotherapy in nude mice inoculated with human colonic cancer cells

AIMS Using a new approach of regional adjuvant chemotherapy to prevent cancer cells hepatic metasta- sis after radical surgery of large bowel cancer. METHODS A model of liver with metastasis of hu- man colonic cancer (HCC) cells in nude mice was used to observe the effect in prevention of metastasis of HCC cells inoculated via spleen applied with early postoper- ative intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy using large dose of 5-FU. RESULTS The incidence of metastasis to liver was decreased by 40%,the mean number of metastatic liv- er nodules in each animal was reduced by 50.89% and the mean survival times of each animal was prolonged by 48.21% by using 5-FU 40 mg/NS 40 ml/kg IP for two consecutive days as compared with the controls. CONCLUSIONS IP is a new and more effective re- gional adjuvant chemotheraputic approach in the pre- vention of liver metastasis HCC cells after radical surgery of large bowel cancer.

The value of postoperative hepatic regional chemotherapy in prevention of recurrence after radical resection of primary liver cancer

INTRODUCTIONIn China,primary liver cancer (PLC) ranks secondin cancer mortality since the 1990s.In the field ofPLC treatment,surgical resection remains the best,which includes large PLC resection,small PLCresection,re-resection of subclinical recurrence,aswell as cytoreduction and sequential resection forunresectable PLC.However,recurrence

A study of preoperative methionine-depleting parenteral nutrition plus chemotherapy in gastric cancer patients

AIM To investigate the interference ofmethionine.free parenteral nutrition plus 5-Fu（-MetTPN+5-Fu）in gastric cancer cell kineticsand the side effects of the regimen.METHODS Fifteen patients with advancedgastric cancer were randomly divided into twogroups,7 patients were given preoperatively aseven-day course of standard parenteralnutrition in combination with a five-day courseof chemotherapy（sTPN+5-Fu）,while the other8 patients were given methionine-deprivedparenteral nutrition and 5-Fu（-MetTPN+5-Fu）.Cell cycles of gastric cancer and normal mucosawere studied by flow cytometry（FCM）.Bloodsamples were taken to measure the serumprotein,methionine（Met）and cysteine（Cys）levels,and liver and kidney functions.RESULTS As compared with the resultsobtained before the treatment,the percentage ofG0/G1 tumor cells increased and that of S phasedecreased in the-MetTPN+5-Fu group,while thecontrary was observed in the sTPN+5-Fu group.Except that the ALT,AST and AKP levels wereslightly increased in a few cases receiving-MetTPN+5-Fu,all the other biochemicalparameters were within normal limits.Serum Cys level decreased slightly after the treatmentin both groups.Serum Met level of patientsreceiving sTPN+5-Fu was somewhat higher aftertreatment than that before treatment;however,no significant change occurred in the -MetTPN+5-Fu group,nor operative complications in bothgroups.CONCLUSION -MetTPN+5-Fu exerted asuppressive effect on cancer cell proliferation,probably through a double mechanism ofcreating a state of'Met starvation'adverse tothe tumor cell cycle,and by allowing 5-Fu to killspecifically cells in S phase.Preoperative short-term administration of -MetTPN+5-Fu had littleundesirable effect on host metabolism.

A clinical and long-term follow-up study of perioperative sequential triple therapy for gastric cancer

INTRODUCTIONAlthough the long-term postoperative survival rateof gastric cancer(GC) patients has been improvedsignificantly since the local dissection of lymph nodewas widely used in China,yet the low curativeresection rate and the high recurrence rate fromperitoneal and hepatic metastases hinder it fromfurther improvement.To alter the currentunsatisfactory status of GC treatment,a

Early prediction of pathological outcomes to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients using automated breast ultrasound

Objective： Early assessment of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy （NAC） for breast cancer allows therapy to be individualized. The optimal assessment method has not been established. We investigated the accuracy of automated breast ultrasound （ABUS） to predict pathological outcomes after NAC. Methods： A total of 290 breast cancer patients were eligible for this study. Tumor response after 2 cycles of chemotherapy was assessed using the product change of two largest perpendicular diameters （PC） or the longest diameter change （LDC）. PC and LDC were analyzed on the axial and the coronal planes respectively. Receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curves were used to evaluate overall performance of the prediction methods. Youden＇s indexes were calculated to select the optimal cut-off value for each method. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values （PPV and NPV） and the area under the ROC curve （AUC） were calculated accordingly.Results： ypT0/is was achieved in 42 patients （14.5%） while ypT0 was achieved in 30 patients （10.3%） after NAC. All four prediction methods （PC on axial planes, LDC on axial planes, PC on coronal planes and LDC on coronal planes） displayed high AUCs （all〉0.82）, with the highest of 0.89 [95% confidence interval （95% CI）, 0.83-0.95] when mid-treatment ＆BUS was used to predict final pathological complete remission （pCR）. High sensitivities （85.7%-88.1%） were observed across all four prediction methods while high specificities （81.5%-85.1%） were observed in two methods used PC. The optimal cut-off values defined by our data replicate the WHO and the RECIST criteria. Lower AUCs were observed when mid-treatment ABUS was used to predict poor pathological outcomes. Conclusions：ABUS is a useful tool in early evaluation of pCR after NAC while less reliable when predicting poor pathological outcomes.

Evaluation of menopausal status among breast cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea

Objective： In patients with chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea （CIA）, the menopausal status is ambiguous anddifficult to evaluate. This study aimed to establish a discriminative model to predict and classify the menopausalstatus of breast cancer patients with CIA.Methods： This is a single center hospital-based study from 2013 to 2016. The menopausal age distribution andaccumulated incidence rate of CIA are described. Multivariate models were adjusted for established and potentialconfounding factors including age, serum concentration of estradiol （E2） and follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）,feeding, pregnancy, parity, abortions, and body mass index （BMI）. The odds ratio （OR） and 95% confidenceinterval （95% CI） of different risk factors were estimated.Results： A total of 1,796 breast cancer patients were included in this study, among whom, 1,175 （65.42%） werepremenopausal patients and 621 （34.58%） were post-menopause patients. Five hundred and fifty patients wereincluded in CIA analysis, and a cumulative CIA rate of 81.64% was found in them. Age （OR： 1.856, 95% CI：1.732-1.990）, serum concentration of E2 （OR： 0.976, 95% CI： 0.972-0.980） and FSH （OR： 1.060, 95% CI：1.053-i.066）, and menarche age （OR： 1.074, 95% CI： 1.009-1.144） were found to be associated with the patients＇menopausal status. According to multivariate analysis, the discriminative model to predict the menopausal status isLogit （P）=-28.396＋0.536Age-0.014E2＋0.031FSH. The sensitivities for this model were higher than 85%, and itsspecificities were higher than 89%.Conclusions： The discriminative model obtained from this study for predicting menstrual state is important forpremenopausal patients with CIA. This model has high specificity and sensitivity and should be prudently used.

Pathological response measured using virtual microscopic slides for gastric cancer patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy

BACKGROUND Although pathological response is a common endpoint used to assess the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for gastric cancer, the problem of a low rate of concordance from evaluations among pathologists remains unresolved. Moreover, there is no globally accepted consensus regarding the optimal evaluation. A previous study based on a clinical trial suggested that pathological response measured using digitally captured virtual microscopic slides predicted patients’ survival well. However, the pathological concordance rate of this approach and its usefulness in clinical practice were unknown. AIM To investigate the prognostic utility of pathological response measured using digital microscopic slides in clinical practice. METHODS We retrospectively evaluated pathological specimens of gastric cancer patients who underwent NAC followed by surgery and achieved R0 resection between March 2009 and May 2015. Residual tumor area and primary tumor beds were measured in one captured image slide, which contained the largest diameter of the resected specimens. We classified patients with < 10% residual tumor relative to the primary tumorous area as responders, and the rest as non-responders;we then compared overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) between these two groups. Next, we compared the prognostic utility of this method using conventional Japanese criteria. RESULTS Fifty-four patients were evaluated. The concordance rate between two evaluators was 96.2%. Median RFS of 25 responders and 29 non-responders was not reached (NR) vs 18.2 mo [hazard ratio (HR)= 0.35, P = 0.023], and median OS was NR vs 40.7 mo (HR = 0.3, P = 0.016), respectively. This prognostic value was statistically significant even after adjustment for age, eastern cooperative oncology group performance status, macroscopic type, reason for NAC, and T- and Nclassification (HR = 0.23, P = 0.018). This result was also observed even in subgroup analyses for different macroscopic types (Borrmann type 4/non-type 4) and histological types (differentiated/undifferentiated). Moreover, the adjusted HR for OS between responders and non-responders was lower in this method than that in the conventional histological evaluation of Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma criteria (0.23 vs 0.39, respectively). CONCLUSION The measurement of pathological response using digitally captured virtual microscopic slides may be useful in clinical practice.

Effects of Taxotere on invasive potential and multidrug resistance phenotype in pancreatic carcinoma cell line SUIT-2

INTRODUCTIONDevelopment of drug-resistance to chemotherapyand subsequent metastasis of tumor are primarilyresponsible for treatment failure and the death fromcancer. There have been many previous studies onthe relationship between expression of multidrugresistance (MDR) phenotype P-glycoprotein (P-gp)and the malignant properties of tumors, but theresults are often conflicting[1-8]. The difference intumor types or MDR phenotype induced by specificagents might account for this discrepancy. Taxotere(TXT), a member of the family of taxanes, hasantitumor activity through its effect of promotingthe polymerization of tubulin[9,10].

Adeno-associated virus mediated endostatin gene therapy in combination with topoisomerase inhibitor effectively controls liver tumor in mouse model

AIM:rAAV mediated endostatin gene therapy has been examined as a new method for treating cancer.However, a sustained and high protein delivery is required to achieve the desired therapeutic effects.We evaluated the impact of topoisomerase inhibitors in rAAV delivered endostatin gene therapy in a liver tumor model. METHODS:rAAV containing endostatin expression cassettes were transduced into hepatoma cell lines.To test whether the topoisomerase inhibitor pretreatment increased the expression of endostatin,Western blotting and ELISA were performed.The biologic activity of endostatin was confirmed by endothelial cell proliferation and tube formation assays. The anti-tumor effects of the rAAV-endostatin vector combined with a topoisomerase inhibitor,etoposide,were evaluated in a mouse liver tumor model. RESULTS:Topoisomerase inhibitors,including camptothecin and etoposide,were found to increase the endostatin exPression level in vitro.The over-expressed endostatin, as a result of pretreatment with a topoisomerase inhibitor, was also biologically active.In animal experiments,the combined therapy of topoisomerase inhibitor,etoposide with the rAAV-endostatin vector had the best tumor- suppressive effect and tumor foci were barely observed in livers of the treated mice.Pretreatment with an etoposide increased the level of endostatin in the liver and serum of rAAV-endostatin treated mice.Finally,the mice treated With rAAV-endostatin in combination with etoposide showed the longest survival among the experimental models. CONCLUSION:rAAV delivered endostatin gene therapy in combination with a topoisomerase inhibitor pretreatment is an effective modality for anticancer gene therapy.

Recent progress in nanotechnology for cancer therapy

The application of nanotechnology significantly benefits clinical practice in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and management.Especially, nanotechnology offers a promise for the targeted delivery of drugs, genes, and proteins to tumor tissues and therefore alleviating the toxicity of anticancer agents in healthy tissues.This article reviews current nanotechnology platforms for anticancer drug delivery, including polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, dendrimers, nanoshells, carbon nanotubes, superparamagnetic nanoparticles, and nucleic acid-based nanoparticles [DNA, RNA interference (RNAi), and antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)] as well as nanotechnologies for combination therapeutic strategies, for example, nanotechnologies combined with multidrug-resistance modulator, ultrasound, hyperthermia, or photodynamic therapy.This review raises awareness of the advantages and challenges for the application of these therapeutic nanotechnologies, in light of some recent advances in nanotechnologic drug delivery and cancer therapy.

EFFECT OF DRUG-RESISTANCE REVERSORS ON EXPRESSIONS OF ONCOGENES OR TUMOR SUPPRESSOR ONCOGENES OF HUMAN TUMOR CELL LINES

MIT method was applied to assay the cytotoxicityof three reversors, verapamil (VER), dipyridamole (DPM)and cyclosporin (CSA) in K562, K562/ADM and KB celllines. S-P immunocytochemical technique was applied todetect cxpressions of oncoproteins or tumor suppressoroncoproteins in these tumor cell lines before or aftertreatment with these reversors. Results showed that threereversors were capable of inhibiting to a certain extentgrowth of K562 or KB cell lines and reversing greatlyadriamycin (ADM)-resistance in K562/ADM cell line.DPM and CsA were observed to inhibit, partly or wholly,expressions of p53, p16, bcl-2, p21 or cerbB-2oncoproteins. VER showed whole inhibition ofexpressions of P53, p16, p21 and bcl-2 and partlyexpression of p53 oncoprotein in K562 cell line. Theseresults suggest that growth inhibition in K562 or KB celllines by the reversors may be associated with partial orwhole inhibition or expressions of p53, p16, p21 or c-erbB-2 oncoproteins. Inhibitions of expressions p53, p16,p21 oncoproteins by VER but not DPM or CsA, may berespossible for reversing activity of VER for ADM-resistance in K562/ADM cell line.

Gene Polymorphisms and Chemotherapy in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

The phamacogenetics is being used to predict whether the selected chemotherapy will be really effective and tolerable to the patient. Irinotecan,oxidized by CYP3A4 to produce inactive compounds,is used for treatment of various cancers including advanced non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. CYP3A4*16B polymorphism was associated with decreased metabolism of irrinotecan. Irinotecan is also metabolized by carboxylesterase to its principal active metabolite,SN-38,which is subsequently glucuronidated by UGT1As to form the inactive compound SN-38G. UGT1A1*28 and UGT1A1*6 polymorphisms were useful for predicting severe toxicity with NSCLC patients treated with irinotecan-based chemotherapy. Platinum-based compounds (cisplatin,carboplatin) are being used in combination with new cytotoxic drugs such as gemcitabine,paclitaxel,docetaxel,or vinorelbine in the treatment of advanced NSCLC. Cisplatin activity is mediated through the formation of cisplatin-DNA adducts. Gene polymorphisms of DNA repair factors are therefore obvious candidates for determinants of repair capacity and chemotherapy efficacy. ERCC1,XRCC1 and XRCC3 gene polymorphisms were a useful marker for predicting better survival in advanced NSCLC patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. XPA and XPD polymorphisms significantly increased response to platinum-based chemotherapy. These DNA repair gene polymorphisms were useful as a predictor of clinical outcome to the platinum-based chemotherapy. EGFR kinase inhibitors induce dramatic clinical responses in NSCLC patients with advanced disease. EGFR gene polymorphism in intron 1 contains a polymorphic single sequence dinucleotide repeat (CA-SSR) showed a statistically significant correlation with the gefitinib response and was appeared to be a useful predictive marker of the development of clinical outcome containing skin rashes with gefitinib treatment. The other polymorphisms of EGFR were also associated with increased EGFR promoter activity. EGFR gene mutations and polymorphisms were also associated with EGFR kinase inhibitors response and toxicity.

A Randomized Clinical Study on Combination of Concurrent Chemo-Radiotherapy and Thalidomide for Middle-Late Esophageal Cancer

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the response rate and tolerance of patients with middle-late esophageal carcinoma, who were treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy （CCRT） plus thalidomide.METHODS Sixty-five eligible patients with local middle-late esophageal carcinoma were randomly assigned to the treatment group （TG） and the control group （CG）. The 33 patients from the TG were treated with CCRT plus thalidomide （a 60-70 Gy of radiation dose, and 5-FU plus cisplatin; oral administration of thalidomide at a dose of 100 mg/d on the first week and 200 mg/d on the second. Both were taken with water, at bedtime until completion of the radiotherapy. In the CG, 32 patients received CCRT only. The clinical effects and tolerance to the CCRT between the 2 groups were compared.RESULTS The response rates of the therapeutic combination in the TG and CG were 87.9% and 68.7%, respectively. There were no statistical differences in comparing the response rates between the 2 groups （P 〉 0.05）; the local control rates in the TG and CG were 93% and 91%, respectively, and there were no statistical differences between the 2 groups （P 〉 0.05）; the 1-year survival rates of the patients in the TG and CG were 74.0% and 63.0%, respectively, without statistical differences between the 2 groups （P 〉 0.05）. The improvement rates of KPS scoring in the TG and CG were 57.6% and 31.3%, respectively. There were significant differences in comparing the improvement rates between the 2 groups （P 〈 0.05）. The incidence rates of nausea and vomiting were lower in the TG compared to the CG, with a statistical significance between the 2 groups （P 〈 0.05）. However, the incidence rates of constipation, lethargy and fatigue were higher in the TG than in CG, showing a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION CCRT combined with thalidomide in treating esophageal carcinoma may improve the quality of life of the patients, the treatment may also raise patients＇ compliance to chemoradiotherapy, and possibly increase their long-term survival rate. Further studies related to this topic are needed.

Adjuvant therapy in pancreatic cancer

The outlook for patients with pancreatic cancer has been grim. There have been major advances in the surgical treatment of pancreatic cancer, leading to a dramatic reduction in post-operative mortality from the development of high volume specialized centres. This stimulated the study of adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatments in pancreatic cancer including chemoradiotherapy and chemotherapy. Initial protocols have been based on the original but rather small GITSG study first reported in 1985. There have been two large European trials totalling over 600 patients (EORTC and ESPAC-1) that do not support the use of chemoradiation as adjuvant therapy. A second major finding from the ESPAC-1 trial (541 patients randomized) was some but not conclusive evidence for a survival benefit associated with chemotherapy. A third major finding from the ESPAC-1 trial was that the quality of life was not affected by the use of adjuvant treatments compared to surgery alone. The ESPAC-3 trial aims to assess the definitive use of adjuvant chemotherapy in a randomized controlled trial of 990 patients.

Immunotherapy for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is presented frequently in late stages that are not amenable for curative treatment.Even for patients who can undergo resection for curative treatment of HCC,up to 50%recur.For patients who were not exposed to systemic therapy prior to recurrence,recurrence frequently cannot be subjected to curative therapy or local treatments.Such patients have several options of immunotherapy(IO).This includes programmed cell death protein 1(PD-1)and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 treatment,combination of PD-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor or single agent PD-1 therapy when all other options are deemed inappropriate.There are also investigational therapies in this area that explore either PD-1 and tyrosine kinase inhibitors or a novel agent in addition to PD-1 with vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors.This minireview explored IO options for patients with recurrent HCC who were not exposed to systemic therapy at the initial diagnosis.We also discussed potential IO options for patients with recurrent HCC who were exposed to first-line therapy with curative intent at diagnosis.

WHAT SHOULD BE KEPT IN MIND FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE TOXIC SIDE-EFFECTS INDUCED BY POSTOPERATIVE CHEMO-AND RADIOTHERAPY FOR OVARIAN TUMOR?

Ovarian tumor may occur in women ofany age, but mostly seen in women duringtheir child-bearing period. The disease shouldbe treated mainly by surgical operation,supplemented by radiotherapy and chemo-therapy. However, the above therapies maycause a series of toxic side-effects, such asalopecia, diarrhea, edema, anorexia, nausea,dry mouth, spontaneous perspiration, headache,

A Survey of Researches on Synergy and Toxicity Abatement of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Radiotherapy of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Even though radiotherapy is a therapy of first choice in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, its radiotoxicity is often difficult to bear for patients in addition to the unsatisfactory effect in some patients. Therefore, an important problem in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is to abate radiotherapeutic toxicity and improve its effect. Some progresses in promoting the effect of radiotherapy and abating its toxicity have been made through application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) which is briefly reviewed as follows.

Fatigue and Quality of Life of Women Undergoing Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer

OBJECTIVE To examine fatigue and quality of life (QOL) inbreast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy.METHODS A self-report survey derived from the Chineseversion of Brief Fatigue Inventory, the Functional Assessmentof Chronic Illness Therapy for Breast Cancer, and the MedicalOutcomes Study Social Support Survey. Descriptive statisticswas used to examine the intensity of fatigue and the prevalenceof severe fatigue. Multivariate analysis of variance was used todetermine factors that affect the five domains of QOL among theparticipants.RESULTS The majority of the participants (n = 261) perceiveda mild level of fatigue, but 35.6% of them suffered severe fatigue.Fatigue had a significantly negative association with all domainsof QOL except social/family wellbeing. The participants whowere receiving chemotherapy, undergoing curative treatment andhaving inadequate social support were more likely to have poorerQOL in all five domains (after adjustment for age).CONCLUSION Although the majority of the participantsexperienced a mild level of fatigue, there was a substantial groupof breast cancer patients who perceived their fatigue as severe. Thefindings of this study showed that fatigue had a detrimental effecton the various aspects of the participants' QOL. Demographic andclinical characteristics of breast cancer patients who were at riskof getting poorer QOL were identified. The results of the studydemonstrate that we should enhance healthcare professionals'awareness of the importance of symptom assessment, andprovide them with information for planning effective symptom-management strategies among this study population.