Published online Dec 28, 2024. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i48.5104
Revised: October 23, 2024
Accepted: November 4, 2024
Published online: December 28, 2024
Processing time: 114 Days and 20.2 Hours
In this Editorial, we review the recent publication in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, which explores the complex relationship between depression and gastric cancer and offers perspectives. Key topics discussed include the microbiota-gut-brain axis, dysbiosis, and the influence of microbial metabolites in homeostasis. Additionally, we address toxic stress caused by hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation, psychological assessments, and future research directions. Our Editorial aims to expand the understanding of the bidirectional relationship between depression and gastrointestinal cancer.
Core Tip: Gastrointestinal cancer and depression are intricately linked in a complex, bidirectional relationship, likely mediated by the microbiota-gut-brain axis through partially understood mechanisms. Chronic inflammation, microbiome alterations, and disruptions to intestinal and blood-brain barriers are pivotal in this interaction. Depression may emerge as a consequence of cancer diagnosis and treatment, while also accelerating cancer progression through neuroendocrine and inflammatory pathways. Early psychological assessments, combined with interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and microbiota-based therapies, can optimize clinical outcomes, enhance treatment adherence, and improve quality of life. Tailored, culturally sensitive strategies are crucial for advancing precision medicine.