Evaluation of the Influence of Biological Factors during the Course of Treatment in Patients with Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of β-endorphins and serotonin on the course of treatment, disease-free time, and overall survival of patients with ovarian cancer. This study may contribute to the identification of modifiable factors that may influence the treatment of ovarian cancer. The research was carried out in a group of 162 patients of which 139 respondents were included in the research; ovarian cancer was diagnosed in 78 of these patients. The study consisted of three stages. In the first stage of diagnostics, a survey among the patients was carried out. In the second stage—5 mL of blood was collected from each patient (n = 139) in the preoperative period to determine the concentration of β-endorphin and serotonin. In the third stage—blood samples were collected from those patients who had completed chemotherapy treatment or had surgery. Concentrations of β-endorphin and serotonin were measured by the Luminex method, using the commercial Luminex Human Discovery Assay kit. The average age of the patients was 62.99 years. The level of β-endorphin significantly differs among patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer and among patients in the control group (202.86; SD—15.78 vs. 302.00; SD—24.49). A lower level of β-endorphins was found in the patients with a recurrence of the neoplastic process compared to those without recurrence (178.84; SD—12.98 vs. 205.66; SD—13.37). On the other hand, the level of serotonin before chemotherapy was higher in the group of people with disease recurrence compared to those without recurrence (141.53; SD—15.33 vs. 134.99; SD—10.08). Statistically significantly positive correlations were found between the level of β-endorphin and both disease-free time (β-endorphin levels before chemotherapy: rho Spearman 0.379, p < 0.027; β-endorphin levels after chemotherapy: rho Spearman 0.734 p < 0.001) and survival time (β-endorphin levels before chemotherapy: rho Spearman 0.267, p < 0.018; β-endorphin levels after chemotherapy: rho Spearman 0.654 p < 0.001). 1. The levels of serotonin and β-endorphin levels are significantly related to ovarian cancer and change during treatment. 2. High mean preoperative concentrations of β-endorphins were significantly related to overall survival and disease-free time.