Associations between plasma cytokines and depressive mood in patients with breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The few studies on the associations between cytokines and depressive mood in patients with cancer have produced conflicting results. This study investigated the associations between plasma cytokines and depressive mood in patients with breast cancer using a large panel of pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulating cytokines.


METHODS
We recruited 273 hospitalized patients with breast cancer awaiting surgery. Preoperative plasma samples were obtained for cytokine analysis, including pro-inflammatory (interleukin [IL]-2, IL-12, interferon [IFN]-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF-alpha]), anti-inflammatory (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13), and immune-modulating (granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor [GM-CSF]) cytokines. Depressive mood was measured using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) at 2-5 days postoperatively, when the patients could cooperate. Covariates included various demographic and clinical characteristics. The association between the MADRS score and each cytokine level was estimated using linear regression models.


RESULTS
Cytokine levels were significantly inter-correlated. Depressive mood was associated with lower levels of pro-inflammatory (IL-2, IL-12, and TNF-alpha), anti-inflammatory (IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13), and immune-modulating (GM-CSF) cytokines independent of potential covariates such as living area or functional level.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that depressive mood is associated with a generally decreased inflammatory reaction or immune function in patients with breast cancer.
Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Korea.
Seon-Young
SY
Kim
Jae-Min
JM
Kim
Sung-Wan
SW
Kim
Il-Seon
IS
Shin
Min-Ho
MH
Park
Jung-Han
JH
Yoon
Chan
C
Choi
Jin-Sang
JS
Yoon
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D003863:Depression / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D016207:Cytokines