Title:Bidirectional Relations Between Anxiety, Depression, and Cancer: A Review
Volume: 24
Issue: 2
Author(s): Ailar Nakhlband, Raheleh Farahzadi, Nazli Saeedi, Habibeh Barzegar, Soheila Montazersaheb*Saiedeh Razi Soofiyani*
Affiliation:
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Keywords:
Depression, stress, cancer, immune system, anti-depressant, anxiety.
Abstract: Epidemiological evidence continues to accumulate on the effect of stress and depression
on cancer initiation and progression. Depression has been introduced as an independent predictor of
increased cancer mortality. At the same time, early intervention for depression increases the survival
rate. Even some evidence has given prognostic value for depression to predict cancer recurrence
and mortality. This article presents current evidence on the correlations of molecular mechanisms of
cancer and depression through; I. The evidence shows the role of pre-existing depression and anxiety
in the development and progression of cancer. II. The Immune system performs a crucial role in
stress, depression, and cancer. III. The role of stress and depression-induced inflammation. IV. The
evidence has proposed that cancer may result in depression and the effect of depression on cancer
outcomes. In conclusion, the importance of preventive interventions to monitor patients’ mental
health during cancer treatment is very significant and should not be underestimated. In other words,
the initial interventions can improve depressive symptoms and increase cancer survival. On the other
hand, by identifying key biomarkers of depression, physicians can identify cancer patients at risk
for depression or those who may not respond to routine treatments. Revealing the molecular mechanism
of the cancer microenvironment in the development of comorbidities promises innovative
therapeutic options for cancer. Identifying these mechanisms opens a new avenue in identifying
cancer patients at risk for depression and can also provide considerable potential in identifying depressive
patients prone to cancer.
