Relationship of depression with serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in skin cancer patients.

Cancer patients frequently manifest alterations such as depression and anxiety, these conditions can modify and trigger inflammatory responses that influence the evolution of the disease. The aim was to identify the prevalence of depressive syndrome and its relationship with serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in patients with skin cancer. This study included 35 patients from the Altos of Jalisco region with histopathological diagnosis of skin cancer with an age range of 35-90 years. Depressive syndrome was evaluated by the Calderón questionnaire and the TNF-α and IL-6 cytokines using the ELISA method (DuoSet, R&D Systems). The combined prevalence of anxiety and moderate depression was 45.7%. Serum levels of TNF-α they tend to be increased in the anxiety/depression group (36.3± 17.30 vs 14.40± 4.26 pg/ml) (p>.05); While there was no difference in the values of IL-6 (97.07± 37.8 vs 102.84± 32.79 pg/ml) (p>.05). In addition, a positive correlation was observed between the cytokines (r = 0.783, p<0.001). The results obtained suggest an inflammatory role for depression in skin cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]