Correlation between cytokines, depression, and anxiety in colorectal cancer patients in different stages of the antitumor therapy

Author(s)

Diego Oliveira Miranda

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Ribeirão Preto.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
• Defense date: 2014-12-09

Examining board members

Gabriela Silva Bisson; Adriana Inocenti Miasso; Dalete Delalibera Corrêa de Faria Mota; Milena Jorge Simões Flória Lima Santos

• Advisor: Gabriela Silva Bisson

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate whether there is a correlation between anxiety, depression and serum cytokine levels in colorectal cancer in different stages of the antitumor therapy. A sample of 100 subjects was divided in 5 groups. Group 1: Healthy volunteers free of any psychiatric or immune system disease (n=20); Group 2: Patients with colorectal cancer who did not undergo surgical resection (n=20); Group 3: Patients who underwent surgical resection and who did not start adjuvant therapy (n=20); Group 4: Patients undergoing chemotherapy for about 3 months, regardless of chemotherapy protocols applied (n=20); Group 5: Patients who have completed adjuvant chemotherapy regimen for about 6 months (n=20). Depression and anxiety were analyzed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and serum levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, TNF-?, TGF-?, and Fractalkine were measured by CBA. Clinically relevant levels of anxiety and/or depression were found in all CRC patients in different stages of the antitumor therapy. A similar pattern of production was observed for proinflammatory cytokines. Elevated levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL- 8, TNF-?, and Fractalkine were found in CRC patients in pre (G2) and postoperative (G3) stages. However, these levels were reduced during (G4) and after (G5) chemotherapy. Furthermore, we found decreased levels of IL-10 in serum of patients in CRC patients in pre and postoperative stages. By analyzing the correlation between HADS scores and serum cytokine levels, we observed a positive association of anxiety and/or depression with the concentrations of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-?, and Fractalkine, and negative with IL-10 in patients in different stages of the antitumor therapy. These results indicate an important link between serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines, anxiety and depression in CRC patients, suggesting that such cytokines are involved in the pathophysiology of these comorbidities (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/17118-9 - Correlations between cytokines, depression and anxiety in patients with colorectal cancer in adjuvant and palliative chemotherapy.
• Grantee: Diego Oliveira Miranda
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate