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Perturbed Inflammatory, Proliferation, Regulatory, And Neurodegeneration Signaling Pathways Are Associated With Trait
Nidhi Thati1, Julia Trudeau2, Ding Quan Ng2
1University of California, San Francisco.
Research Square
|July 29, 2026
Summary
This study found shared inflammatory pathways linked to trait anxiety in cancer survivors and the general population. These findings highlight common biological mechanisms and potential intervention targets for anxiety in diverse groups.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Psychiatry
- Oncology
Background:
- Trait anxiety is a common issue for cancer survivors, impacting their quality of life.
- Understanding the biological underpinnings of trait anxiety in cancer survivors is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate perturbed biological pathways associated with trait anxiety severity.
- To compare these pathways between cancer survivors and the general population.
Main Methods:
- Utilized gene expression data from 1,093 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).
- Assessed trait anxiety using the Spielberger Trait Anxiety Scale, categorizing participants into low and high anxiety groups.
- Performed differential gene expression and pathway impact analyses (FDR < 0.025) separately for cancer survivors and non-cancer participants.
Main Results:
- Identified 42 perturbed pathways in cancer survivors and 80 in the non-cancer cohort.
- Found 36 overlapping pathways, including inflammatory, proliferation, neurodegeneration, and regulatory pathways.
- Highlighted inflammatory pathways as a shared mechanism between the two groups; six pathways were unique to cancer survivors.
Conclusions:
- This research is the first to examine transcriptomic pathway perturbations related to trait anxiety in cancer survivors and a matched non-cancer cohort.
- Revealed shared and distinct biological mechanisms underlying trait anxiety in cancer survivors.
- Suggests potential therapeutic targets for managing trait anxiety in cancer survivors.
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