Mindfulness-based stress reduction in cancer patients: impact on overall survival, quality of life and risk factor.
Paolo Forte, Valentina Abate, Ida Bolognini, Orazio Mazzoni, Vincenzo Quagliariello, Nicola Maurea, Daria di Bonito, Ermelinda Quarata, Giovanni Migliaccio, Marco Petrillo, Daniela Barberio
September 1, 2023 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202309_33579 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Narrative review |
|---|---|
| Population | Patients with cancer in different stages |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 15 |
| Key findings | The authors argue that mindfulness-based stress reduction may reduce cancer-related fatigue and stress, improve quality of life and sleep, and favorably affect immune and cardiometabolic markers in cancer patients, though they note that only a few clinical studies support these effects. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based stress reduction, a complementary and alternative therapy, is able to decrease cancer-related fatigue, and stress and to improve the quality of life in cancer patients. Some studies evaluated if mindfulness-based stress reduction could improve some cardiometabolic and cancer risk factors, including systemic chemokines, growth factors, and pro-inflammatory biomarkers (e.g., C-reactive protein, Interleukin-1). In this narrative review, we highlight the pleiotropic beneficial effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction and its clinical impact on cardiovascular and cancer risk factors among patients with cancer in different stages. Moreover, improvements in the overall quality of life, sleep quality, and immune functions [changes in plasma levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4), interferon-γ (INF-γ), and interleukin-10 (IL-10)] will also be discussed. Albeit few clinical studies available in the literature, evidenced the beneficial effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on the immune and cardiometabolic profile in cancer patients, providing important insights into the closest collaboration between psycho-oncologists, oncologists, and cardiologists.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- Effectiveness of Web-Based Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Patients With Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses. Journal of Medical Internet Research June 25, 2024
- Health Workers' Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Resilience During COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare 2024
- Global landscape and hotspot analysis of meditation research in cancer: a bibliometric study. Journal of Cancer Survivorship April 5, 2025
- The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Meditation on the Immune Function of Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Three-Level Meta-Analysis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews October 1, 2025
- Solution-focused brief therapy combined with mindfulness-based stress reduction to alleviate claustrophobia during MR imaging. Medicine July 11, 2025
and 1 more in the library