Abstract 4270
Background
Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the deadliest gynaecologic cancers predominantly of the epithelial subtype (EOC). Despite advances in treatments, relapse and dissemination is very likely to occur after remission. The heterogenous nature and complex immunosuppressive environment of the tumour implicate a heterogenous clinical outcome and a key role for the immune system in the disease prognosis. Diagnosis and treatment of cancer is often a traumatic experience associated with mental and physical comorbidities, cortisol is released in response to stress and has a controversial role to either promote or suppress stress depending on its physiological environment. Strong evidence is showing that stress hormones can influence tumour biology. In this study, the impact of cortisol on splenocytes and T cells and immune-cancer interactions were explored to probe a mechanism for its action in OC.
Methods
C57BL/6j mice were either subjected to chronic restraint stress for 2 hours a day over a period of six weeks or left alone in their home cages (no stress group). Splenocytes were then extracted and first examined for DNA damage measured by immunofluorescence using phosphorylated γ-H2AX. Splenocytes were next co-cultured with ovarian spheroids for five days and spheroids size and splenocytes infiltration were compared against no stress group. The impact of acute stress on DNA damage was tested in vitro on T lymphocytes subjected to physiological concentration of cortisol for 2h.
Results
Chronic stress significantly increased DNA damage in mouse splenocytes (p = 0.0027). Ex vivo T lymphocytes exposed to cortisol also showed a significant increase in DNA damage (p = 0.017). Furthermore, a significant increase in the size of spheroids co-cultured with splenocytes from stress group was observed (p = 0.0213) and cortisol inhibited immune cell trafficking into the spheroids.
Conclusions
In conclusion, both chronic stress and acute exposure to cortisol can increase DNA damage in splenocytes and T lymphocytes reducing their infiltration into cancer spheroids. This data may have impact for patient with ovarian cancer experiencing extreme stress.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The author.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
The author has declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
3345 - Escalation plans and DNACPR discussions in the unwell oncology patient
Presenter: Raghad Elghadi
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4165 - The Relation between the Symptom Burden of Hospitalized Patients with Incurable Cancer and the Quality-of-Life of Their Family Caregivers
Presenter: Eman Tawfik
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
1784 - Clinical predictors for analgesic response to radiotherapy in patients with painful bone metastases
Presenter: Ragnhild Habberstad
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5323 - 30-Day Mortality in Palliative Radiotherapy
Presenter: Shing Fung Lee
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3942 - The relationship between Naldemedine administration and the maximum dose of oral opioids
Presenter: Shinya Kajiura
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3698 - Exposure to low energy amplitude modulated radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) is associated with rapid improvement in quality of life (QoL) status in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), using various analyses of EORTC-C30.
Presenter: Elizabeth Santana
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3885 - Olanzapine Combined with 5-HT3 RA Plus Dexamethasone for Prevention and Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting in High and Moderate Emetogenic Chemotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Presenter: Jian-Guo Zhou
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5700 - Early Palliative care in advanced cancer, is it really effective?
Presenter: Raquel Gómez Bravo
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5924 - Deprescribing Potentially Inappropriate Medication in Cancer Patients
Presenter: Simon Reuter
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5314 - Spirituality and religious coping for Cancer patients and providers: An ‘Almighty’ belief for palliative care
Presenter: Vibhay Pareek
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract