Cancer

From MEpedia, a crowd-sourced encyclopedia of ME and CFS science and history

This article contains information on cancer in people with ME/CFS, and the the use of drugs developed for cancer in people with ME/CFS.

For information about post-cancer fatigue, see cancer-related fatigue.

Signs and symptoms[edit | edit source]

Treatment[edit | edit source]

In isolated cases, certain ME/CFS patients undergoing cancer treatment found that their ME/CFS symptoms improved. This has led to clinical trials of a few specific cancer ME/CFS drugs.[1]

ME/CFS[edit | edit source]

A study by Chang et al. (2012) found that a history of chronic fatigue syndrome was associated with an increased risk of certain Non-Hodgkin lymphomas, specifically diffuse large B cell lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma, and B cell Non-Hodgkin lymphoma not otherwise specified.[2]

Ampligen[edit | edit source]

Ampligen (rintatolimod) is an unlicensed, experimental drug originally developed for cancer.

Cyclophosphamide[edit | edit source]

An observational study of ME/CFS patients with cancer who were prescribed cyclophosphamide for their cancers, showed unexpected improvements in ME/CFS symptoms.[1]

Rituximab[edit | edit source]

Rituximab, a drug used for leukemia,[3] has been through several clinical trials for ME/CFS patients, but failed in a phase III clinical trial.[citation needed]

Notable studies[edit | edit source]

  • 2020, Intravenous Cyclophosphamide in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. An Open-Label Phase II Study[1] - (Full text)
  • 2016, Mortality in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome[4] (Full Text)
  • 2016, Chronic fatigue syndrome in patient with ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma[5] - (Abstract)
  • 2012, Chronic fatigue syndrome and subsequent risk of cancer among elderly U.S. adults[2] - (Full text)
  • 2000, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Cancer[6] - (Abstract)

See also[edit | edit source]

Learn more[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Rekeland, Ingrid G.; Fosså, Alexander; Lande, Asgeir; Ktoridou-Valen, Irini; Sørland, Kari; Holsen, Mari; Tronstad, Karl J.; Risa, Kristin; Alme, Kine; Viken, Marte K.; Lie, Benedicte K.; Dahl, Olav; Mella, Olav; Fluge, Øystein (2020). "Intravenous Cyclophosphamide in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. An Open-Label Phase II Study". Frontiers in Medicine. 7: 162. doi:10.3389/fmed.2020.00162. ISSN 2296-858X. PMC 7201056. PMID 32411717.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Chang, C.M.; Warren, J.L.; Engels, E.A. (2012). "Chronic fatigue syndrome and subsequent risk of cancer among elderly U.S. adults". Cancer. 118 (23): 5929–5936. doi:10.1002/cncr.27612.
  3. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/drugs/rituximab
  4. McManimen, Stephanie L.; Devendorf, Andrew R.; Brown, Abigail A.; Moore, Billie C.; Moore, James H.; Jason, Leonard A. (2016). "Mortality in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome". Fatigue: Biomedicine, Health & Behavior. 4 (4): 195–207. doi:10.1080/21641846.2016.1236588.
  5. https://ajbm.net/bm-publisher-5711-2/
  6. Levine, Paul H.; Pilkington, Deborah; Strickland, Paula; Peterson, Daniel (2000). "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Cancer". Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. 7 (1): 29–38. doi:10.1300/J092v07n01_04.