Exploratory inflammatory profiles in patients with depressive disorders and a history of cancer considering alcohol consumption

Purpose: Psychiatric disorders, including recurrent unipolar depression and bipolar disorder, are associated with
increased cancer risk and premature mortality. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and immune dysregulation may
underlie these associations.
Objectives: This exploratory study investigated whether inflammatory and neuroplasticity-related biomarkers
differ according to cancer history and alcohol abstinence in patients with AUD and depressive disorders.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 172 patients from a French clinical cohort, including 53
participants with longitudinal inflammatory and neuroplasticity biomarkers assessed over six months.
Results: Among the study sample (mean age: 45.7 years; 134 men/38 women), 12.8% had cancer history, predominantly
ear, nose and throat (27.3%) and breast cancers (22.7%), with psychiatric diagnoses preceding
cancer onset by approximately 15 years. IL-8 (Interleukin-8) levels were significantly higher in participants with
cancer history and depressive disorders, independently of alcohol abstinence, suggesting a stable cancerassociated
inflammatory signature. In contrast, TNF-α (Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha) levels varied according
to alcohol abstinence status over time, distinguishing abstinent from non-abstinent individuals independently of
cancer history. BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) levels did not differ according to cancer history or
abstinence.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that distinct inflammatory pathways may characterize cancer history and
alcohol abstinence in patients with AUD and depressive disorders. IL-8 and TNF-α may represent candidate
biomarkers associated with cancer-associated inflammation and alcohol abstinence status, respectively. Given
the small cancer subgroup, these results should be interpreted as exploratory and hypothesis-generating. Future
studies integrating genetic, epigenetic, and molecular markers are needed to refine these associations and support
personalized approaches.