Journal article
The biology of hope: Inflammatory and neuroendocrine profiles in ovarian cancer patients
Brain, behavior, and immunity, Vol.116, pp.362-369
02/2024
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.12.014
PMCID: PMC11219272
PMID: 38081436
Abstract
Although the concept of hope is highly relevant for cancer patients, little is known about its association with cancer-relevant biomarkers. Here we examined how hope was related to diurnal cortisol and interleukin-6 (IL-6), a pro-inflammatory cytokine previously associated with tumor biology and survival in ovarian cancer. Secondly, we examined whether hope and hopelessness are distinctly associated with these biomarkers.
Participants were 292 high-grade ovarian cancer patients who completed surveys and provided saliva samples 4x/daily for 3 days pre-surgery to assess diurnal cortisol. Blood (pre-surgery) and ascites were assessed for IL-6. Hope and hopelessness were assessed using standardized survey items from established scales (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale; Profile of Mood States, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy). Two hopeless items were z-scored and combined into a composite for analysis. Regression models related these variables to nocturnal cortisol, cortisol slope, plasma and ascites IL-6, adjusting for cancer stage, BMI, age, and depression.
Greater hope was significantly related to a steeper cortisol slope, β = -0.193, p = 0.046, and lower night cortisol, β = -0.227, p = 0.018, plasma IL-6, β = -0.142, p = 0.033, and ascites IL-6, β = -0.290, p = 0.002. Secondary analyses including both hope and hopelessness showed similar patterns, with distinct relationships of hope with significantly lower nocturnal cortisol β = -0.233,p = 0.017 and ascites IL-6, β = -0.282,p = 0.003, and between hopelessness and a flatter cortisol slope, β = 0.211, p = 0.031.
These data suggest a biological signature of hope associated with less inflammation and more normalized diurnal cortisol in ovarian cancer. These findings have potential clinical utility but need replication with more diverse samples and validated assessments of hope.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The biology of hope: Inflammatory and neuroendocrine profiles in ovarian cancer patients
- Creators
- Susan K LutgendorfRachel M Telles - University of IowaBrendan Whitney - Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United StatesPremal H Thaker - Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United StatesGeorge M SlavichMichael J GoodheartFrank J Penedo - University of MiamiAlyssa E Noble - University of IowaSteven W ColeAnil K Sood - Departments of Gynecologic Oncology, Cancer Biology and Center for RNA Interference and Noncoding RNA, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United StatesBenjamin W Corn
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Brain, behavior, and immunity, Vol.116, pp.362-369
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.12.014
- PMID
- 38081436
- PMCID
- PMC11219272
- NLM abbreviation
- Brain Behav Immun
- eISSN
- 1090-2139
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 12/09/2023
- Date published
- 02/2024
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Urology
- Record Identifier
- 9984530398402771
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