Altered p38 MAPK expression was associated with poor outcome in patients with esophageal cancer. p38 may be a potential biomarker for the prediction of depressive symptoms and prognosis in patients with esophageal cancer.
IL-1rα was positively associated with the GRID scores of depressive symptoms (regression coefficient, 3.52 ± 1.18; P = .004), but not with major depression.
Taken together, these findings indicate that sensitivity of p38 MAPK signaling pathways to immune stimulation is associated with depressive symptoms during chronic IFN-alpha treatment.