Dr Hathaway on the Investigation of Distress on the TME in Ovarian Cancer

Cassandra A. Hathaway, MD, oncologist, Moffitt Cancer Center, discusses the rationale for investigating the association between distress, such as depression, and the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) in patients with ovarian cancer.

Previous research has connected depression with an increased risk of ovarian cancer, Hathaway begins. Accordingly, it was hypothesized that this may be attributed to norepinephrine, Hathaway notes, adding that previous studies have investigated this connection.

However, there has been limited research into the immune system and what factors can affect the TME for patients with ovarian cancer, Hathaway expands.

Utilizing 3 different cohorts of patients from Nurses’ Health Study, NHSII, and New England Case-Control Study, investigators collected tumor tissue to conduct multiplex immunofluorescence assays to further examine the infiltration of T cells, immune checkpoints, B cells, and immunoglobulins. Depression status was defined by the self-reporting of depressive symptoms, use of antidepressants, or a physician diagnosis.

Findings presented at the 2023 AACR Annual Meeting showed an increased numbers of cells indicative of recently activated cytotoxic T cells in depressed patients with ovarian cancer vs non-depressed patients. However, in line with past work, investigators saw decreased odds of women with depression having plasma cells in their tumors, Hathaway concludes.