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Published on: June 23, 2023
Exploratory inflammatory profiles in patients with depressive disorders and a history of cancer considering alcohol
Théodore Vinais1, Brigitte Plansont2, Alexis Parenté3
1Inserm U1094, IRD UMR270, Univ. Limoges, CHU Limoges, EpiMaCT - Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases in Tropical Zone, Institute of Epidemiology and Global Health - Michel Dumas, OmegaHealth, Limoges, France.; Research and Innovation Unit, Esquirol Hospital, Limoges, France.
Purpose:
Psychiatric disorders, including recurrent unipolar depression and bipolar disorder, are associated with increased cancer risk and premature mortality. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and immune dysregulation may underlie these associations.
Objectives:
This exploratory study investigated whether inflammatory and neuroplasticity-related biomarkers differ according to cancer history and alcohol abstinence in patients with AUD and depressive disorders.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective analysis of 172 patients from a French clinical cohort, including 53 participants with longitudinal inflammatory and neuroplasticity biomarkers assessed over six months.
Results:
Among the study sample (mean age: 45.7 years; 134 men/38 women), 12.8% had cancer history, predominantly ear, nose and throat (27.3%) and breast cancers (22.7%), with psychiatric diagnoses preceding cancer onset by approximately 15 years. IL-8 (Interleukin-8) levels were significantly higher in participants with cancer history and depressive disorders, independently of alcohol abstinence, suggesting a stable cancer-associated inflammatory signature. In contrast, TNF-α (Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha) levels varied according to alcohol abstinence status over time, distinguishing abstinent from non-abstinent individuals independently of cancer history. BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) levels did not differ according to cancer history or abstinence.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that distinct inflammatory pathways may characterize cancer history and alcohol abstinence in patients with AUD and depressive disorders. IL-8 and TNF-α may represent candidate biomarkers associated with cancer-associated inflammation and alcohol abstinence status, respectively. Given the small cancer subgroup, these results should be interpreted as exploratory and hypothesis-generating. Future studies integrating genetic, epigenetic, and molecular markers are needed to refine these associations and support personalized approaches.
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