A study conducted by psychologists at The Ohio State University reveals that lung cancer patients suffering from moderate to severe depression are two-to-three times more likely to experience poor survival. The report gives rise to questions of whether the same would apply to those diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Does Depression Lessen Treatment Impact on Mesothelioma Patients?
Clinicians have noted that many lung cancer patients and mesothelioma patients don’t respond to targeted treatments and immunotherapy, and the study’s results offer a potential explanation. According to lead author Barbara Anderson, “These patients with high levels of depression are at much higher risk for poor outcomes.”
Though the study did not include mesothelioma patients, there are many similarities between lung cancer and the rare asbestos-related disease. The 186 patients included in the study were all newly diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer, and the researchers specifically wanted to know how their depression levels corresponded to biomarkers for inflammation.
Depression is Common in Mesothelioma Patients
Depression is common in mesothelioma patients, and the same is true of the patients involved in the study. Writing in the online journal PLOS, the researchers noted that among all cancer patients, lung cancer patients have the highest rate of depression. In their study, they found that 35% of participants had moderate to severe depressive symptoms at the time of diagnosis. They also found an association between higher depression scores and higher inflammation scores.
Previous studies have linked high inflammation levels in mesothelioma patients and others to poorer survival, and that patients with a high ratio of a specific inflammatory biomarker identified in the study are roughly two times more likely to die of lung cancer within two years than those with lower ratios. Though more needs to be understood about the link between depression and cancer survival, the authors conclude, “Depression should not be discounted. This study shows the strong link between depression and inflammation, with both related to poor outcomes.”
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can provide you with the information and support that you need. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608.
