Prognostic value of patient‐reported depression in women with hormone‐responsive early breast cancer in TEXT and SOFT

Background Depression has been identified as an adverse mental health outcome in women with breast cancer (BC). Depression was investigated as a risk factor for poor survival in premenopausal women with hormone‐responsive early BC treated in the TEXT (Tamoxifen and Exemestane Trial) and SOFT (Suppression of Ovarian Function Trial) trials. Methods The data used were from a subset of patients who participated in TEXT or SOFT and completed the Center of Epidemiologic Studies‐Depression scale. Associations between baseline depression‐score categories and baseline characteristics were assessed using the Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel test controlling for antidepressant use. Multivariable proportional hazards regression models were used to test the association between baseline depression and disease‐free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Regression models were adjusted for factors known to be associated with outcomes, baseline antidepressant use, and early treatment cessation. Results Forty percent (2287 of 5738) of the women enrolled in the SOFT and TEXT trials were included in this analysis (SOFT, n = 1259; TEXT, n = 1028). Twenty‐seven percent of women reported mild‐to‐moderate or severe depression at baseline. Race ( p = .001), body mass index ( p = .02), family history ( p = .02), and performance status ( p =.007) were significantly associated with the severity of depression. Relative to the no‐symptomatology group, the hazard ratios (overall p = .04) for DFS were 1.34 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–1.76) for women with mild‐to‐moderate depression and 1.34 (95% CI, 0.96–1.87) for those with severe depression. Relative to the no‐symptomatology group, the hazard ratios (overall p = .008) for OS were 1.68 for mild‐to‐moderate depression (95% CI, 1.15–2.44) and 1.67 for those with severe depression (95% CI, 1.05–2.66). Conclusions In premenopausal women with hormone‐responsive early BC, depression at baseline is a risk factor for poorer DFS and OFS. Further investigation of the underlying interactive processes is needed. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00066703 (SOFT) and NCT00066690 (TEXT).