Introduction/Goal: Stress and negative emotions have been shown to exert a substantial impact on cancer patients, affecting their ability to adapt to therapy and the overall effectiveness. Elevated cortisol levels, a stress-induced hormone, have been shown to suppress immune system function, potentially reducing the body’s capacity to combat cancer cells. On the contrary, prolactin, a hormone that stimulates the immune system, has shown potential in this context but requires further study. The objective of this study was to investigate the acute physiological changes that occur during a single Conscious Connected Breathing (CCB) session, as part of a larger investigation on Integrative Breathwork Psychotherapy (IBP), a novel integrative psychosomatic intervention designed to improve psychosomatic and immune status in cancer patients. Methods: The project involved 93 breast cancer patients hospitalized for postoperative radiotherapy who participated in a ten-session IBP program. Fifty-six patients agreed to participate (response rate: 60%). During the experiment, 8 patients were excluded from the analysis. IBP consisted of small group sessions (up to six participants) conducted three times weekly. Each session included 45 min of CCB—defined as rhythmic circular nasal breathing at a depth exceeding resting tidal volume, without breath-holding, performed in a state of mindful acceptance—followed by 15 min of free emotional expression (verbal articulation of emerging feelings and sensations). This was a within-subject pre-post design: physiological measurements were obtained immediately before and 30 min into the tenth session (when participants had achieved technical proficiency) in all participants, who served as their own controls. Outcome measures included: arterialized capillary blood gas parameters (pH, pCO2, pO2, ctO2, COHb, HHb, cH+), serum cortisol and prolactin concentrations, and immunoglobulin A (IgA). Results: During the CCB session, blood gas analysis revealed significant changes consistent with mild respiratory alkalosis: decreases in pCO2(p= 0.003), pO2(p< 0.001), cH+(p< 0.001), ctO2(p< 0.001), COHb (p= 0.03), and HHb (p= 0.004), alongside an increase in pH (p< 0.001). Concurrently, prolactin levels increased significantly (p< 0.001), while cortisol (p< 0.001) and IgA (p< 0.001) decreased. Conclusions: This study is the first to analyze acute changes in capillary blood gas parameters and neuroendocrine balance during Conscious Connected Breathing sessions in cancer patients, revealing measurable immunostimulatory and stress-modulatory effects. The observed shift toward respiratory alkalosis, combined with increased prolactin and decreased cortisol, suggests that CCB may facilitate favorable neuroendocrine-immune interactions. These findings support the potential of breathwork as a complementary therapy for cancer patients. Further research is needed to explore underlying mechanisms and assess long-term psychological and immunological impacts.
引言/目标：已有研究表明，压力和负面情绪对癌症患者产生显著影响，不仅干扰其治疗适应能力，还影响整体疗效。压力诱导的激素皮质醇水平升高已被证实会抑制免疫功能，可能削弱机体对抗癌细胞的能力。相反，具有免疫刺激作用的催乳素在此背景下显示出潜力，但尚需深入研究。本研究旨在探讨单次意识连接呼吸（CCB）过程中的急性生理变化，该研究是整合性呼吸心理治疗（IBP）大型研究的一部分。IBP是一种新型整合性心身干预方法，旨在改善癌症患者的心身状态与免疫功能。方法：该项目纳入93名因术后放疗住院的乳腺癌患者，所有患者均参与为期十次的IBP疗程。其中56名患者同意参与研究（应答率：60%）。实验过程中，8名患者被排除分析。IBP采用小组形式（最多六人），每周进行三次。每次课程包含45分钟CCB训练（定义为超过静息潮气量的节律性循环鼻式呼吸，无屏气动作，在正念接纳状态下完成），随后进行15分钟自由情绪表达（对涌现的感受和知觉进行言语表达）。本研究采用自身前后对照设计：在第十次课程中（参与者已掌握技术要领），于课程开始前及开始后30分钟对所有参与者进行生理指标测量。结局指标包括：动脉化毛细血管血气参数（pH、pCO2、pO2、ctO2、COHb、HHb、cH+）、血清皮质醇与催乳素浓度以及免疫球蛋白A（IgA）。结果：CCB训练期间的血气分析显示，各项指标发生与轻度呼吸性碱中毒一致的显著变化：pCO2（p=0.003）、pO2（p<0.001）、cH+（p<0.001）、ctO2（p<0.001）、COHb（p=0.03）和HHb（p=0.004）降低，同时pH值升高（p<0.001）。伴随这些变化，催乳素水平显著上升（p<0.001），而皮质醇（p<0.001）与IgA（p<0.001）水平下降。结论：本研究首次分析了癌症患者意识连接呼吸过程中毛细血管血气参数与神经内分泌平衡的急性变化，揭示了可测量的免疫刺激与应激调节效应。观察到的呼吸性碱中毒趋势，结合催乳素升高与皮质醇降低的现象，提示CCB可能促进有益的神经内分泌-免疫相互作用。这些发现支持呼吸训练作为癌症患者辅助疗法的潜力。未来研究需进一步探索其作用机制，并评估长期心理与免疫影响。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家