Early depressive symptoms in cancer patients receiving interleukin 2 and/or interferon alfa-2b therapy.
JCO. 2000-05-10; 18(10): 2143-2151
DOI: 10.1200/jco.2000.18.10.2143
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1. J Clin Oncol. 2000 May;18(10):2143-51.
Early depressive symptoms in cancer patients receiving interleukin 2 and/or
interferon alfa-2b therapy.
Capuron L(1), Ravaud A, Dantzer R.
Author information:
(1)Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U 394, Neurobiologie
Intégrative, Institut François Magendie, and Institut Bergonié, Comprehensive
Cancer Center, Bordeaux, France.
PURPOSE: Depressive symptomatology is frequently associated with interleukin
(IL)-2 and interferon alfa-2b (INFalpha-2b) therapy in cancer patients. The
objective of the present study was to evaluate the depressive and anxiety
symptoms induced by IL-2 and/or INFalpha-2b in cancer patients during the first
days of cytokine immunotherapy.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 48 patients with renal cell carcinoma or
melanoma. Patients were treated either with subcutaneous IL-2, alone (n = 20) or
in combination with INFalpha-2b (n = 6); or with INFalpha-2b alone, administered
subcutaneously at a low dose (n = 8) or intravenously at a high dose (n = 14).
Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Montgomery and Asberg Depression
Rating Scale (MADRS), and anxiety symptoms were evaluated using the Covi scale.
Evaluations were performed just before initiation of treatment (day 1) and on
days 3 and 5 of treatment.
RESULTS: Patients treated with IL-2 alone or in association with INFalpha-2b had
significantly higher MADRS scores after 5 days of cytokine therapy, and patients
who received both cytokines had increased scores on day 3. In contrast, patients
treated with INFalpha-2b alone did not have varying MADRS scores during the
course of treatment. Cytokine therapy had no effect on anxiety, except in
patients treated with IL-2 in combination with INFalpha-2b. In these patients,
the enhancement in anxiety scores that was observed on day 5 was mainly
attributable to increased somatic complaints.
CONCLUSION: IL-2 and INFalpha-2b have differential effects on mood, and IL-2
therapy induces depressive symptoms early in treatment.
DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2000.18.10.2143
PMID: 10811680 [Indexed for MEDLINE]