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. 2015 Jul-Sep;13(3):352-6.
doi: 10.1590/S1679-45082015AO3344.

Chronic psychological stress and its impact on the development of aggressive breast cancer

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Thayse Fachin Cormanique  1 , Lirane Elize Defante Ferreto de Almeida  1 , Cynthia Alba Rech  2 , Daniel Rech  2 , Ana Cristina da Silva do Amaral Herrera  3 , Carolina Panis  1
Affiliations

Chronic psychological stress and its impact on the development of aggressive breast cancer

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Thayse Fachin Cormanique et al. Einstein (Sao Paulo). 2015 Jul-Sep.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological findings of women diagnosed with breast cancer and study the impact of chronic psychological stress on the pathological characteristics of these tumors.

Methods: We investigated a cohort composed of women diagnosed with breast cancer and divided into two groups. One group was categorized as presenting with chronic psychological stress (by using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire - SRQ-20). Another group of women with breast cancer, but with no previous history of chronic psychological stress, comprised the Control Group. Clinical and pathological data were assessed.

Results: Women presenting with a history of chronic distress were significantly overweight when compared to the Control Group. Furthermore, it was observed that these stressed women also had a significant percentage of aggressive breast cancer subtype, the HER2 amplified tumor, which could be putatively associated with the loss of immunosurveillance.

Conclusion: Our findings suggested an interaction among chronic psychological stress, overweight, and the development of more aggressive breast tumors.

Objetivo: Investigar os achados clínico-patológicos de mulheres diagnosticadas com câncer de mama e estudar o impacto do estresse psicológico crônico nas características patológicas desses tumores.

Métodos: Investigamos uma coorte composta por mulheres diagnosticadas com câncer de mama divididas em dois grupos. O primeiro foi classificado pela apresentação de estresse psicológico crônico (por meio do Self-Reporting Questionnaire − SRQ-20). Outro grupo de mulheres com câncer de mama, mas sem história prévia de estresse psicológico crônico, foi denominado Grupo Controle. Os dados clínicos e patológicos foram avaliados.

Resultados: As mulheres com histórico de estresse crônico apresentaram-se significativamente acima do peso quando comparadas com o Grupo Controle. Além disso, verificou-se que estas mulheres estressadas apresentaram um porcentual significativo de um subtipo de câncer de mama agressivo, o HER2, o que poderia estar associado à possível perda da imunovigilância.

Conclusão: Nossos resultados sugeriram uma ligação entre o estresse psicológico crônico, o excesso de peso e o desenvolvimento de tumores de mama com maior agressividade.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: none.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Analysis of body mass indexes. We used the International Classification of Body Mass Index to categorize the patients into normal weight (BMI up to 25kg/m2) or overweight (BMI above 25kg/m2)
Figure 2
Figure 2. Molecular subtyping of tumors. The images represent the IHC labeling for HER2
Figura 1
Figura 1. Análise de índices de massa corporal. Usamos a Classificação Internacional de Índice de Massa Corporal para classificar as pacientes em peso normal (IMC até 25kg/m2) ou sobrepeso (IMC acima de 25kg/m2)
Figura 2
Figura 2. Subtipagem molecular de tumores. As imagens representam a marcação de IHC para HER2
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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