Serum Levels of BDNF, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and EGF for Differential Diagnosis in Oncology Patients with Induced Depression

Introduction

The aim of this pilot study was to assess the differences in the serum levels of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Interleukin 8 (IL-8), Interleukin 10 (IL-10) and Epidermal growth factor (EGF) in oncology patients with the symptoms of induced depression and in oncology patients without the symptoms of depression.

Materials/methods

We administered following self report questionnaires to the hospitalized oncology patients (n=32): Zung´s Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZSDS) and Symptom Check List Psychiatric Rating Scale (SCL 90). We also collected blood samples from these patients for the detection of the following factors: BDNF, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and EGF. The procedures had been fully explained to all patients and written informed consent had been obtained too. The patients were divided into two groups according to the scores in ZSDS: a group with the presence of symptoms of depression (n=20) and a group without the symptoms of depression (n=12). The differences in the levels of BDNF, interleukins and EGF between the groups were statistically assessed by Wilcoxon rank-sum test.

Results and conclusions

Oncology patients with the symptoms of depression showed significantly lower levels of BDNF (medians 1452.3 vs 3229.0 pg/ml, p=0.014). There were no significant differences in the levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and EGF between the groups. Oncology patients show significantly more symptoms of depression according to ZSDS (p=0.0004) and SCL 90 (p=0.0073) than controls. This result supports the hypothesis of diminished neuroplasticity in oncology patients with the symptoms of depression as measured by the serum levels of BDNF.