The Lutgendorf Psychoneuroimmunology Laboratory The main projects in the laboratory examine effects of psychological stress on neuroendocrine and immune system function. We also study adjustment to chronic illness, particularly cancer. Biobehavioral Oncology: The current focus of the Lutgendorf laboratory investigates how stress is related to tumor growth in ovarian cancer patients. This work is funded by the National Cancer Institute. Epidemiological studies in general support the presence of a relationship between stress and cancer progression. The goal of our work is to understand biobehavioral mechanisms that may underlie this link . We are investigating relationships between life stress and the immune response, angiogenesis, and other mechanisms of tumor growth in ovarian cancer. The goal of this work is to ultimately develop innovative behavioral and pharmacological interventions that may contribute to longer survival in ovarian cancer patients. (click image for larger view) Adapted from Antoni, Lutgendorf et al, 2006, Nature Reviews Cancer.   Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research We have recently completed two studies examining effects of a complementary (CAM) medicine intervention on immune function in cancer patients. One is a randomized study of effects of a CAM called "Healing Touch" vs. relaxation vs. standard care on immune function in cervical cancer patients. This was funded by the National Center on Complementary and Alternative Medicine and was part of the Frontier Medicine Research Center housed in the University of Connecticut Health Sciences Center. The second was a randomized study of effects of "Healing Touch" vs. standard care on immunity and fatigue in breast cancer patients. This study was funded by the National Cancer Institute. We are currently analyzing data from these studies. Stress and Neuroendocrine Function among Women with Interstitial Cystitis Interstitial cystitis is a chronic painful inflammatory bladder condition, more frequent in women, that results in disability. We are investigating the role of dysregulation of the stress response systems (the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis) in this condition. Donald Lamkin, health psychology graduate student has just received funding from the National Cancer Institute to study whether the inflammation from cancer can induce depressive behaviors in an animal model of cancer. Recent graduate student projects include Post treatment anxiety in breast cancer patients Fear of recurrence among breast cancer patients Effects of stress on hormonal function of men with benign prostate hyperplasia  Use of hypnosis during interventional radiology procedures Relationships between quality of mental imagery and physiological changes during relaxation and stress Study of relationships between distress and cortisol dysregulation in ovarian cancer patients.

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