Mental adaptation to cancer: depression and blood platelet monoamine oxidase activity in breast cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
Stress and depression were reported as negative prognostic factors in breast cancer patients and monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity was considered a marker of mental suffering.


METHODS
MAO activity in platelets was determined in a group of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, after the communication of diagnosis and surgery, using the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression scales (HADS).


RESULTS
The analysis of regression indicated that hopelessness-helplessness positively correlated with depression, anxiety and anxious preoccupation. Monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity displayed a positive regression coefficient with depression score. At follow-up, Cox analysis of survival indicated that MAO activity was a marginally significant risk factor.


CONCLUSIONS
Further research in a larger group of patients may support the present results, showing that MAO activity is a biological marker of difficulties in mental adaptation to cancer and is a risk factor for survival.
Giraldi
Tullio
T
Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Sezione di Farmacologia and Clinica Psichiatrica, Università di Trieste, I-34100 Trieste, Italy. giraldi@units.it
De Vanna
Maurizio
M
Malagoli
Maria
M
Tuveri
Guido
G
Sutto
Katia
K
Schillani
Giulia
G
Grassi
Luigi
L
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000201:enzymology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000032:analysis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase