2 - Researching the mechanisms underlying the symptoms of patients with cancer

Summary

The overarching goals of the science of symptom research are to prevent the development of symptoms and to establish new or enhanced treatment methods for the symptoms of cancer and cancer treatment, which may in turn lead to improvement in patient function, stress level, satisfaction with and willingness to endure therapy, and quality of life both during and after cancer treatment. To design treatments for the symptoms experienced by patients with cancer, it would be extremely useful to know the underlying mechanisms of those symptoms. In many areas of medicine, animal models have proven useful for suggesting underlying mechanisms of diseases and for testing appropriate therapies.

In this chapter we briefly discuss the theories underlying the use of animal models in cancer symptom research.Chapter 3 builds on this foundation with a review of animal research that may be appropriate for modeling the symptoms associated with cancer and its treatment.

The rationale for animal models

Using animal models in research

In principle, animal models can be used to mimic certain disease states, to identify potential underlying mechanisms and to test potential therapies – pharmacological, surgical, or otherwise. Th e primary rationale for using animal models is that certain exp erimental procedures are diffi cult to perform or would be considered unethical to perform in humans.