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Abstract # 1740 Stress and depression levels predict neuroendocrine dynamics in long term ovarian cancer survivors
Abstract   Peer reviewed

Abstract # 1740 Stress and depression levels predict neuroendocrine dynamics in long term ovarian cancer survivors

S.K Lutgendorf, M.G Cuneo, A Schrepf, P.H Thaker, M Goodheart, S.W Cole, G.M Slavich and A.K Sood
Brain, behavior, and immunity, Vol.57, pp.e10-e10
10/2016
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2016.07.037

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Abstract

We have previously reported that flatter cortisol slopes and higher nocturnal cortisol pre-surgery are associated with shorter survival times in ovarian cancer. Diurnal cortisol profiles normalize after completion of chemotherapy, and parallel changes in plasma IL-6, suggesting that successful primary treatment is linked with decreases in inflammation. In this study, we examined cortisol profiles in 5-year ovarian cancer survivors and associations with psychosocial factors. Participants were 30 survivors (19 early-stage, 11 advanced-stage at diagnosis) who had previously participated in our prospective study. They were re-contacted at least 5 years (mean=6.16 years) post-diagnosis at which time they completed psychosocial assessments and collected salivary cortisol upon waking, at 4-6pm, and at bedtime for 3 days. Adjusting for age, the cortisol profiles of 5-year survivors approximated those of healthy women, although survivors had slightly higher night cortisol (p=0.088) and flatter diurnal slopes (p=.096). Greater cumulative lifetime stress burden (beta=0.54, p=0.008), including both acute events (beta=0.50, p=0.016) and chronic difficulties (beta=0.48, p=0.02), and greater concurrent depression (beta=0.41, p=0.019) were each associated with flatter cortisol slopes at 5 years, adjusting for age and stage. These findings suggest that although cortisol profiles have largely normalized in long term survivors, chronic stress and mood are still linked to diurnal cortisol. As cortisol can impair chemotherapeutic response and can reflect tumor-derived inflammation, these findings may have clinical relevance.

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