Researchers from Basel Medical School in Switzerland have shown that an increase in stress hormones like cortisol is linked to an increase in glucocorticoid receptor sites in distant organs and a greater level of metastases in breast cancer.
The researchers, led by Professor Mohamed Bentires-Alj, showed that, not only do stress hormones increase metastasis, but the different receptors can produce slightly modified forms of the disease and this can render cancer drugs less effective. The researchers studied specific gene activity in their mouse models to assess how the cancer varied between the primary and the secondaries.
The researchers also showed that the glucocorticoid receptors became very active in metastasis and that the mice with metastases had much higher levels of stress hormones cortisol and corticosterone that the mice with no metastases.
Chris Woollams, former Oxford University Biochemist and a founder of CANCERactive said, "We have covered links between stress and cancer before, and even the work of the UCLA Stress Management Laboratory who say that people with cancer who actively manage their stress survive significantly longer. We also have covered the benefits of endorphins – particularly from exercise and yoga – in neutralising cortisol; and the benefits of the Ayurvedic herb Ashwagandha in doing the same. We have also shown how stress damages your gut bacteria and reduces their effectiveness causing a loss of bioactive compounds in the body and a reduction in the immune system.
UCLA told us that their 15 years of study showed counselling, the Rainbow Diet, taking fish oils, and practicing yoga and meditation were each and all important in active stress management and improving survival.”
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