Inflammatory cytokines and depression in children with cancer: A review of the literature

Abstract

Compared to the general pediatric population, pediatric cancer patients are at increased risk of experiencing depressive symptoms during and after their treatment. Clinically, there exist few resources to guide health care professionals in the care of children with cancer who report depressive symptomatology. Pediatric cancer patients experience unique inflammatory changes secondary to their disease and accompanying treatments. It has been reported that inflammatory changes in the context of illness are related to cytokine dysregulation which in turn may influence the expression of depressive symptoms. In this review of current literature, we summarize the existing knowledge, relevant models and studies in progress with respect to this concept.

Keywords: Pediatric oncology; cytokines; depression; inflammation.