Genetic Risk For Depression and Quality of Life in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Henry Melissa , Chen Lawrence M. , Ducharme Laurence , Devault-Tousignant Cyril , Rosberger Zeev , Frenkiel Saul , Hier Michael , Zeitouni Anthony , Kost Karen , Mlynarek Alex , Richardson Keith , Chartier Gabrielle , Mascarella Marco , Sadeghi Nader , Sultanem Khalil , Shenouda Georges , Cury Fabio L. , Meaney Michael 
Published: May 2024

Importance

Although patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) have been shown to experience high distress, few longitudinal studies include a comprehensive evaluation of biopsychosocial factors affecting quality of life (QoL), including genetic risk for depression.

Objective

To identify factors at the time of cancer diagnosis associated with QoL scores at 3 months after treatment in patients newly diagnosed with a first occurrence of HNC.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This prospective longitudinal study of 1464 participants with a 3-month follow-up, including structured clinical interviews and self-administered measures was carried out at the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at 2 tertiary care McGill University Affiliated Hospitals, McGill University Health Centre, and Jewish General Hospital. Eligible patients were adults newly diagnosed within 2 weeks with a primary first occurrence of HNC, had a Karnofsky Performance Scale score higher than 60, and an expected survival of more than 6 months. Two hundred and twenty-three patients (72%) consented to participate and completed the baseline questionnaire, and 71% completed the 3-month follow-up measures.

Exposures

An a priori conceptual model including sociodemographics, medical variables, psychosocial risk factors, and a polygenic risk score for depression (PRS-D) was tested.

Main outcomes and measures

The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Head and Neck measured QoL at baseline and at 3 months.

Results

Participants were mostly men (68.7%), with a mean (range) age of 62.9 (31-92) years, 36.6% having a university degree, 35.6% living alone, and 71.4% diagnosed with advanced HNC with mostly cancers being of the oropharynx (42.2%), oral cavity (17%), and larynx (16.3%). QoL at 3 months after HNC diagnosis was associated with higher PRS-D (B = −4.71; 95% CI, −9.18 to −0.23), and a diagnosis of major depressive disorder within 2 weeks of an HNC diagnosis (B = −32.24; 95% CI, −51.47 to 13.02), lifetime suicidal ideation (B = −22.39; 95% CI, −36.14 to −8.65), living with someone (B = 12.48; 95% CI, 3.43-21.52), having smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days pre-HNC diagnosis (B = −15.50; 95% CI, −26.07 to −4.93), chemotherapy type (B = −11.13; 95% CI, −21.23 to −1.02), and total radiotherapy dose (Gy) (B = −0.008; 95% CI, −0.01 to −0.002).

Conclusions and relevance

This study identified the predictive value of a genetic predisposition to depression on QoL and function immediately after oncologic treatments. These findings highlight the potential importance of genetic profiling pretreatment to identify those most susceptible to experience QoL and functional compromise. Depression is a clear area of public health concern and should be a central focus in the treatment of patients with HNC.