ASSOCIATION OF IL-6, HYPOTHALAMUS-PITUITARY-ADRENAL (HPA) AXIS FUNCTION AND DEPRESSION IN CANCER PATIENTS

• Published in: Anticancer research Vol. 28; no. 6B; p. 4081
• Main Authors: Jehn, C F, Kuehnhardt, D, Bartholomae, A, Pfeiffer, S, Schmid, P, Flath, B C, Possinger, K, Lueftner, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.12.2008
• ISSN: 0250-7005

Evidence suggests cytokines (IL-6) and alteration of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis play a crucial role in the ethiology of depression. Patients (pts) with cancer show elevated prevalence rates for depression. The objective of this study was to investigate if cancer pts with depression exhibit these neuroimmune system abnormalities. Methods: Plasma concentrations of IL-6 and cortisol were measured in cancer pts with (n=39) and without depression (n=61). The relative diurnal variation of cortisol (cortisol VAR), expressed in percent, was calculated. Results: Mean age and Karnofsky-index did not differ between pts with depression and pts without depression (62.7 vs. 59.4 years (p=0.073) and 62.1 vs. 65.2% (p=0.385), respectively). There was a significant difference in median plasma concentration of IL-6 between the pts with depression and pts without depression (18.7 vs. 2.7 pg/mL; p<0.001). Relative cortisol VAR was decreased in depressed pts compared to pts without depression (11.72 vs. 60.6%, p=0.037). A positive correlation between the HADS-D score and IL-6 concentrations was found (r=0.469, p<0.001). Negative correlations were found between cortisol VAR vs. HADS-D and cortisol VAR vs. IL-6 (r=-0.6, p<0.001 and r=-0.52, p<0.001). Conclusion: Depression in cancer is associated with increased plasma IL-6 concentrations and dysfunction of the HPA axis.