Pharmacological treatment of depression in women with breast cancer: a systematic review.

The objective of this study is to review the literature on pharmacological treatment of depression in women with breast cancer. According to the PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review of randomized, controlled clinical trials and open label prospective studies on antidepressants effects on depression in women with breast cancer up to January 14, 2013. In this analysis, a total of 213 studies were identified, and six studies met the inclusion criteria. Of the six studies, three were placebo-controlled randomized controlled clinical trials with fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor; and Mianserin­a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant. Both studies found that fluoxetine and mianserin significantly improved depressive symptoms and quality of life (QOL) compared with placebo. Conversely, desipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant, and the SSRI, paroxetine, showed no significant effects on depression compared with placebo. A double-blind, parallel group study comparing a tricyclic antidepressant, amitriptyline, and paroxetine showed a significant and comparable improvement in depression and QOL. Two open label, prospective studies found that escitalopram and the norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, reboxetine, significantly improved depression and QOL compared with baseline values. In conclusion, depression is a clinical problem in patients with breast cancer. Pharmacological treatment with antidepressants may improve depression and QOL. However, the evidence is limited, and the studies are too heterogeneous to recommend one regimen or drug over another. Further antidepressant studies are needed to guide depression treatment in patients with breast cancer.

There is no association between the circadian clock gene HPER3 and cognitive dysfunction after noncardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: The specific clock-gene PERIOD3 is important with regard to circadian rhythmicity, sleep homeostasis, and cognitive function. The allele PER3(5/5) has been associated with worse cognitive performance in response to sleep deprivation. We hypothesized that patients with the PER3(5/5) genotype would have an increased risk of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) 1 week after noncardiac surgery. METHODS: Blood samples were analyzed from 93 patients with POCD and 186 patients without POCD from a completed multicenter study. The study population comprised patients ages 40 years and older undergoing noncardiac surgery who were tested preoperatively and 1 week after surgery with a neuropsychological test battery comprising 7 subtests. PER3 genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction analysis of DNA from blood samples (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT01088100). RESULTS: The frequencies of the 3 genotypes were 11.8% (32 patients) PER3(5/5), 41.7% (113 patients) PER3(4/5), and 46.5% (126 patients) PER3(4/4). No significant difference was found in the distribution of the 3 genotypes according to POCD at 1 week (P = 0.68). Twelve percent (6% to 21%) of the patients with POCD and 12% (7% to 17%) of the patients without POCD had the PER3(5/5) genotype. The difference of the incidence of POCD/-POCD for the PER3(5/5) genotype was 1% (-7% to 10%). A significantly higher Z score was found in patients having the PER3(4/4) in 1 of the neuropsychological tests (error score of the Concept Shifting Test) (Bonferroni corrected P = 0.042). CONCLUSION: No significant association was found between the clock-gene PER3(5/5) genotype and POCD at 1 week after noncardiac surgery. If PER3(5/5) does worsen cognitive performance, the incidence is <10% of patients.