Abstract:
ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between serum neurotransmitter concentration and severity of disease in patients with breast cancer complicated with depression.
MethodsSixty breast cancer complicated with depression patients(SDS score ≥ 53 points) and 60 breast cancer complicated without depression patients(SDS score < 53 points) treated with adjuvant chemotherapy after radical mastectomy were divided into the observation group and control group, respectively.According to SDS score, the observation group was subdivided into the severe depression group(18 cases, SDS score ≥ 72 points), moderate depression group(20 cases, SDS score of 63 to 72 points) and mild depression group(22 cases, SDS score of 53 to 62 points).The levels of 5-hydroxytryptophan(5-HT), neuropeptide Y(NPY), dopamine(DA) and norepinephrine(NE) in peripheral blood in two groups were measured, and their relationship with the severity of depression in the observation group was observed.
ResultsThe serum levels of 5-HT, DA, NPY and NE in observation group were significantly lower than those in control group(P < 0.01).The serum levels of 5-HT, DA, NPY and NE in severe depression group were lower than those in moderate depression group and mild depression group(P < 0.01), and the serum levels of 5-HT, DA, NPY and NE in moderate depression group were lower than those in mild depression group(P < 0.01).The serum levels of 5-HT, DA, NPY and NE in the observation group after anti-depression treatment significantly increased compared with before treatment(P < 0.01).The serum levels of 5-HT, DA, NPY and NE in breast cancer complicated with depression patients treated with chemotherapy after operation were negatively correlated with the SDS score(r=-0.575, -0.601, -0.568, -0.612, P < 0.01).
ConclusionsThe serum neurotransmitter concentration decreases in breast cancer complicated with depression patients, and the neurotransmitter concentration is negatily correlated with the severity of depression.