Biomarkers To Evaluate Distress In Cancer Patients.

251Background: Self-report assessments of stress are a popular, but limiting practice, particularly for underserved populations that may struggle with poor psychological insight and illiteracy. Assessment of stress via biomarkers may be a more inclusive approach to stress assessment for patients with cancer. However, as the rise in popularity regarding biomarker function as outcome data has risen, so to have questions regarding the validity of this endeavor. The current study aimed to explore the convergent validity of inflammatory biomarkers (C-Reactive Protein; CRP, Interleukin 6; IL-6, and Cortisol) while also exploring predictors of stress (e.g., sex, race, marital status) in an underserved, diverse cancer population. Methods: Upon IRB approval, patients (N = 37) were consented and contributed plasma and serum for the examination of biomarkers (CRP, IL-6, and Cortisol). Next, patients completed the Calgary Symptoms of Stress Inventory (CSOSI; Carlson u0026 Thomas, 2007) to assess for biopsychosocial stres...