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Serum cortisol has several associations with inflammatory marker features of depression and anxiety in young women with gynecologic cancer, according to the results of a study recently published in Supportive Care in Cancer.
Given the paucity of knowledge in this specific arena, researchers conducted a study to examine the associations between serum cortisol and inflammatory marker features of depression and anxiety in young women with gynecologic cancer.
They recruited 64 patients with gynecologic cancer, aged 15 to 39, at 2 hospitals in China from May to December 2021. Patients were evaluated for anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
For the serum cortisol analysis, the patients provided blood samples 3 times in 1 day: 8 am, 4 pm, and 10 pm. The samples were examined for average, variability, and diurnal patterns of serum cortisol and inflammatory markers, specifically C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α).
Serum cortisol, IL-6, and TNF-α levels were significantly higher in the women who reported having depression or anxiety than in the women who reported not having depression or anxiety (P <.05).
Another important finding in the study was dysregulations in the diurnal patterns of serum cortisol in the depression/anxiety group compared with the non-depression/anxiety group.
Serum cortisol level in the non-depression/anxiety group decreased gradually over the course of the day, as represented in the blood draws. This coincided with the circadian response of the biological clock controlling the cortisol levels. However, in the anxiety/depression group, the serum cortisol levels were significantly higher at 10 pm.
“The findings strengthen the body of evidence implicating a role for serum cortisol, IL-6, and their diurnal patterns in depression and anxiety in young women with gynecologic cancer,” the researchers concluded. “Moving forward, it will be crucial to compare the effects of different features, particularly the average and diurnal patterns of cortisol and IL-6, on depression and anxiety using longitudinal, large sample size, cohort studies to clarify the mechanisms and improve cancer mental health outcomes.”
Reference
Qin N, Yi S, Dai C, et al. Associations of serum cortisol and inflammatory marker features with depression and anxiety in young women with gynecologic cancer. Support Care Cancer. Published online November 6, 2023. doi:10.1007/s00520-023-08145-z
