Abstract
The present data report on five bereaved cancer patients with initial progression-free
disease in respect to natural killer cell activity, ß-endorphin binding capacity of
their peripheral blood lymphocytes, and the psychometrically objective parameter depression
during widowhood. In bereaved and severely depressed cancer patients, there is a tendency
of an earlier onset of decreased natural killer cell activity and a reduced binding
affinity of ß-endorphin to peripheral blood lymphocytes.
A second set of data obtained from a cancer patient cohort study shows a correlation
between the two variables depression and ß-endorphin, profiles are inversely correlated
and cancer patients, doing clinically well, state that physical activities counteract
possible day-to-day depressive disorders.
Taking together the two sets of data, one might speculate that for a defineable subgroup
of cancer patients physical activities raise endorphin levels and psychological well-being,
both of which might modulate the activity of immune competent cells, which leads to
an extended period of progression-free disease.
Key words
Stressors - POMC fragments - NK cell activity - intervention - physical exercise
