Immunological therapies can relieve aromatase inhibitor-related joint symptoms in breast cancer survivors.

OBJECTIVES

Aromatase inhibitors can cause joint symptoms. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of immunologic therapies for this kind of joint symptoms.

METHODS

A total of 16 postmenopausal women with stage I-III breast cancer with joint symptoms related to Aromatase inhibitors were enrolled. They received immunologic therapies of thymosin α1 1.6 mg, twice a week for 4 weeks. Outcome measures included the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General quality of life measure. Interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 were determined to evaluate immunomodulatory activity. Paired Samples Test and linear regression analysis were used to statistics the outcome measures.

RESULTS

From baseline to the end of treatment, patients reported improvement in the mean Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form worst pain scores (5.7-3.4, P < 0.001), pain severity (3.9-2.9, P = 0.01), and pain-related functional interference (4.2-1.8, P < 0.001), as well as the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis function subscale and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General physical well-being (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). No adverse events were reported. The mean serum concentrations for secretion of interferon-gamma were significantly lower (P < 0.001); serum concentrations of interleukin 4 were higher (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Immunologic therapies could play a role in reducing Aromatase inhibitor- related joint symptoms in breast cancer survivors and affecting the immune system in powerful ways. The improvements of immune system were associated with aromatase inhibitor-related joint symptoms.