Early depressive symptoms in cancer patients receiving interleukin 2 and/or interferon alfa-2b therapy.
OBJECTIVE
Depressive symptomatology is frequently associated with interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon alfa-2b (INFalpha-2b) therapy in cancer patients. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the depressive and anxiety symptoms induced by IL-2 and/or INFalpha-2b in cancer patients during the first days of cytokine immunotherapy.


METHODS
The study included 48 patients with renal cell carcinoma or melanoma. Patients were treated either with subcutaneous IL-2, alone (n = 20) or in combination with INFalpha-2b (n = 6); or with INFalpha-2b alone, administered subcutaneously at a low dose (n = 8) or intravenously at a high dose (n = 14). Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), and anxiety symptoms were evaluated using the Covi scale. Evaluations were performed just before initiation of treatment (day 1) and on days 3 and 5 of treatment.


RESULTS
Patients treated with IL-2 alone or in association with INFalpha-2b had significantly higher MADRS scores after 5 days of cytokine therapy, and patients who received both cytokines had increased scores on day 3. In contrast, patients treated with INFalpha-2b alone did not have varying MADRS scores during the course of treatment. Cytokine therapy had no effect on anxiety, except in patients treated with IL-2 in combination with INFalpha-2b. In these patients, the enhancement in anxiety scores that was observed on day 5 was mainly attributable to increased somatic complaints.


CONCLUSIONS
IL-2 and INFalpha-2b have differential effects on mood, and IL-2 therapy induces depressive symptoms early in treatment.
Capuron
L
L
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U 394, Neurobiologie Intégrative, Institut François Magendie, and Institut Bergonié, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bordeaux, France. lucile.capuron@vignemale.bordeaux.inserm.fr
Ravaud
A
A
Dantzer
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins