Chelsea J Siwik1, Elizabeth Cash2,3,4, Sandra E Sephton3,4,5. 1. Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA. 2. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Communicative Disorders, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA. 3. UofL Health - James Graham Brown Cancer Center, Louisville, KY, USA. 4. Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA. 5. Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between depressive symptoms, leukocyte telomere length-a marker of cellular ageing, and survival amongst lung cancer patients. DESIGN: Patients with non-small cell lung cancer were recruited from a university-affiliated cancer center clinic. MAIN OUTCOME: Patients (N = 67) reported on depressive symptoms and provided a blood sample for leukocyte telomere length assessment at baseline and at a 3-month follow-up. Survival status was tracked over 3 years. RESULTS: Age at diagnosis and depressive symptoms, as measured by the CES-D, were associated with shorter leukocyte telomere length (p < .05), although only age at diagnosis contributed statistical significance to the model. Depressive symptoms predicted shorter survival from date of diagnosis (p < .01). Patients who reported experiencing clinically meaningful levels of depressive symptoms (CES-D scores ≥ 16) demonstrated shorter survival than those who reported sub-clinical levels of depressive symptoms (p < .05). Leukocyte telomere length did not emerge as a predictor of shorter survival. CONCLUSION: Clinically meaningful levels of depressive symptoms are associated with shorter survival amongst lung cancer patients. These findings support the on-going efforts to screen all cancer patients for low mood and to investigate mechanisms linking depressive symptoms and shorter survival in cancer contexts.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between depressive symptoms, leukocyte telomere length-a marker of cellular ageing, and survival amongst lung cancer patients. DESIGN: Patients with non-small cell lung cancer were recruited from a university-affiliated cancer center clinic. MAIN OUTCOME: Patients (N = 67) reported on depressive symptoms and provided a blood sample for leukocyte telomere length assessment at baseline and at a 3-month follow-up. Survival status was tracked over 3 years. RESULTS: Age at diagnosis and depressive symptoms, as measured by the CES-D, were associated with shorter leukocyte telomere length (p < .05), although only age at diagnosis contributed statistical significance to the model. Depressive symptoms predicted shorter survival from date of diagnosis (p < .01). Patients who reported experiencing clinically meaningful levels of depressive symptoms (CES-D scores ≥ 16) demonstrated shorter survival than those who reported sub-clinical levels of depressive symptoms (p < .05). Leukocyte telomere length did not emerge as a predictor of shorter survival. CONCLUSION: Clinically meaningful levels of depressive symptoms are associated with shorter survival amongst lung cancer patients. These findings support the on-going efforts to screen all cancer patients for low mood and to investigate mechanisms linking depressive symptoms and shorter survival in cancer contexts.
Authors: Lauren A Zimmaro; Sandra E Sephton; Chelsea J Siwik; Kala M Phillips; Whitney N Rebholz; Helena C Kraemer; Janine Giese-Davis; Liz Wilson; Jeffrey M Bumpous; Elizabeth D Cash Journal: Cancer Date: 2018-01-22 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: Ingrid M Wentzensen; Lisa Mirabello; Ruth M Pfeiffer; Sharon A Savage Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev Date: 2011-04-05 Impact factor: 4.254
Authors: Christopher F Sharpley; David R H Christie; Vicki Bitsika; Linda L Agnew; Nicholas M Andronicos; Mary E McMillan Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2017-09-18 Impact factor: 3.894