Genetic variants associated with post-traumatic stress symptoms in patients with gynecologic cancer

Andrea M Johnson; Deanna Teoh; Patricia Jewett; Burcu F Darst; Jordan Mattson; Cody Hoffmann; Katherine Brown; Aditi Makaram; Ciana Keller; Anne H Blaes; Susan A Everson-Rose; Rachel I Vogel

doi:10.1016/j.ygyno.2023.01.006

Genetic variants associated with post-traumatic stress symptoms in patients with gynecologic cancer

Gynecol Oncol. 2023 Mar:170:102-107. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2023.01.006. Epub 2023 Jan 19.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ University of Minnesota, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America.
² University of Minnesota, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America; University of Minnesota, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America.
³ Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Public Health Sciences, Seattle, WA, United States of America.
⁴ University of Minnesota Genomics Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America.
⁵ University of Minnesota, College of Biological Sciences, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America.
⁶ University of Minnesota, Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America.
⁷ University of Minnesota, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America.
⁸ University of Minnesota, Division of Geriatrics, Palliative and Primary Care, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America.
⁹ University of Minnesota, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America. Electronic address: isak0023@umn.edu.

Abstract

Objective: Patients with cancer experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) more commonly than the general population. The objective of this study was to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients with gynecologic cancer.

Methods: A prospective cohort study recruited 181 gynecologic cancer survivors receiving care at the University of Minnesota between 2017 and 2020 who completed PTSD DSM-V surveys to self-report their symptoms of PTSD and provided saliva samples. DNA samples were genotyped for 11 SNPs in 9 genes involved in dopaminergic, serotonergic, and opioidergic systems previously associated with risk of PTSD in populations without cancer.

Results: Most participants had either ovarian (42.5%) or endometrial (46.4%) cancer; fewer had cervical (7.7%) or vaginal/vulvar (3.3%) cancer. Two SNPS were identified as statistically significantly associated with higher PTSD scores: rs622337 in HTR2A and rs510769 in OPRM1.

Conclusions: Genetic variation likely plays a role in development of PTSD. HTR2A is involved in the serotonin pathway, and OPRM1 is involved in the opioid receptor pathway. This information can be used by oncologic providers to identify patients at greater risk of developing PTSD and may facilitate referral to appropriate consultants and resources early in their treatment.

Keywords: Cancer distress; Cancer survivorship; Gynecologic cancer; PTSD.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Female
Genital Neoplasms, Female* / complications
Genotype
Humans
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
Prospective Studies
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / epidemiology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / etiology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / therapy

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding