2024 Latin America Conference on Lung Cancer (LALCA) - Posters-PP01.93: Relation Between Inflammation and Depression in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Positivefrfr Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients

PP01.93: Relation Between Inflammation and Depression in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Positivefrfr Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients

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This study examines the link between inflammation and depression in patients with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The research involved 32 newly diagnosed metastatic NSCLC patients, predominantly women with an average age of 58.9 years. These patients were tracked monthly to observe the correlation between depression and TNFα, an inflammatory marker.<br /><br />Lung cancer generally results in more psychological distress compared to other cancers, largely due to “scanxiety,” the anxiety associated with cancer-related scans. Notably, 54% of patients with EGFR mutations reported above-normal anxiety levels, while 56% displayed depressive symptoms, with 27% having diagnosable depression—rates significantly higher than the general population.<br /><br />The study used the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) to assess depression, alongside measuring TNFα levels at diagnosis, 4 and 12 weeks after treatment initiation, and at disease progression. Findings showed a significant association between elevated TNFα levels and depression, with TNFα levels increasing 11% at 4 weeks and 75% at 12 weeks after treatment initiation. Depression was significantly linked with moderate-to-severe initial dyspnea, brain metastases, and poor performance status.<br /><br />While depression did not impact overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS) to first-line treatment, inflammation via TNFα may contribute to depression through activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis and serotonin transporter stimulation. The study underscores the prevalence of mild to moderate depression in EGFR-mutated lung cancer patients and its potential inflammatory basis, recommending psychological management to improve patient outcomes.

Asset Subtitle

Liliana Gutierrez

Keywords

inflammation

depression

EGFR

non-small cell lung cancer

NSCLC

TNFα

psychological distress

scanxiety

Self-rating Depression Scale

hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis