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. 2017 Nov 12;20(3):300–311. doi: 10.1177/1099800417740970

Table 3.

Studies in Which Biomarkers Were Used to Predict Group Membership and Outcomes.

Biomarker First Author (Year) Results
Comparisons Between Groups or Time Points Relationship Between Biomarkers and psychological Health Outcomes
Neuroendocrine function
 SAM axis activity
  CAT (EPI and NE) Bevans (2016)a
  • EPI, NE, CAT-turnover: (ns) CGs (vs. NCs)

  • NE:↓T2 (vs. T1) in CGs

  • (−) Chronic stress and EPI

Cohen (2005)b
  • EPI, NE:↑CGs, advanced CA (vs. CGs, localized CA)

  sAA Rohleder (2009)c
  • Diurnal rhythm at T1: (ns) CGs (vs. NCs)

  • Diurnal rhythm over time:↓CGs (vs. NCs)

  • Total daily output at T1: (ns) CGs (vs. NCs)

  • Total daily output over time:↑CGs (vs. NCs)

  Salivary pH Khalaila (2014)c
  • ↓CGs, CA (vs. CGs, non-CA)

  • (−) Chronic stress and salivary pH

  • (−) Depression and salivary pH

 HPA axis activity
  Cortisol Bevans (2016)a,c
  • (ns) CGs (vs. NCs)c

  • (ns) CGs and NCs over timec

  • ↓CGs (vs. NCs) at T2, T3a

  • ↓CGs over timea

  • ↑NCs over timea

  • (ns) Chronic stress and cortisola

Cohen (2005)a
  • ↑CGs, advanced CA (vs. CGs, localized CA)

  • (ns) Emotional distress and cortisol

Lucini (2008)c
  • (ns) CGs (vs. NCs)

Miller (2002)c,d
  • Diurnal cortisol slope:↓CGs (vs. NCs)

Miller (2008)c
  • (ns) CGs (vs. NCs)

Miller (2014)c
  • (ns) CGs (vs. NCs)

Nightingale (2017)c
  • Diurnal cortisol slope:↓T2 (vs. T1)

  • (−) QOL at T1 and diurnal cortisol slope at T2

Thomas (2012)c
  • ↓CGs (vs. NCs)

  • ↓CGs, late stage (vs. CGs, stage 1)

  • Diurnal cortisol slope: (ns) CGs (vs. NCs)

  • CAR: (ns) CGs (vs. NCs)

  • (−) PTSD and cortisol

  • (−) Depression and diurnal cortisol slope

Immune function
 Cytokines Bevans (2016)a
  • IL-6: (ns) CGs (vs. NCs)

  • TNF-α: (ns) CGs (vs. NCs)

  • TNF-α:↓T2 (vs. T1) in CGs

  • (ns) Chronic stress and TNF-α

Cohen (2005)a
  • IL-2, IL-12:↓CGs, advanced CA (vs. CGs, localized CA)

  • (−) Emotional distress and IL2, IL12

Miller (2002)a,d
  • TNF-α:↑CGs (vs. NCs)

  • IL-6:↓CGs (vs. NCs)

  • IL-1β: (ns) CGs (vs. NCs)

Miller (2008)a
  • IL-1 receptor antagonist:↑CGs (vs. NCs)

  • IL-6: (ns) CGs (vs. NCs)

Rohleder (2009)a
  • IL-6: (ns) CGs (vs. NCs) at T1

Sherwood (2016)a
  • (+) Anxiety and latent class membership (IL-1ra) in male

  • (ns) Depression and latent class membership (IL-1ra, IL-6)

CRP Miller (2008)a
  • ↑CGs (vs. NCs)

Miller (2014)
  • (ns) CGs (vs. NCs)

Rohleder (2009)a
  • (ns) CGs (vs. NCs) at T1

  • ↑CGs (vs. NCs) over time

NK cell Goodfellow (2003) a
  • (↓) Stress and NK cell activity only in females at T1

  • (↓) Depression and NK cell activity at T1

Lutz Stehl (2008)a,d
  • (ns) Stress and NK cell activity

Note. ↑ = increased; ↓ = decreased; (+) = positively associated; (−) = negatively associated; (ns) = not significantly different or associated; CA = cancer; CAR = cortisol awake response; CAT = catecholamine; CG = caregiver; CRP = C-reactive protein; EPI = epinephrine; HPA = hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal; HSCT = hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; IL = interleukin; NC = noncaregiver; NE = norepinephrine; NK = natural killer; PTSD = post-traumatic stress disorder; QOL = quality of life; ra = receptor antagonist; sAA = salivary α-amylase; SAM = sympathetic–adrenal–medullary; TNF-α = tumor necrosis factor-α.

aBiomarker of interest measured in serum. bBiomarker of interest measured in urine. cBiomarker of interest measured in saliva. dCaregivers for pediatric cancer patients.