Common Antidepressants Could Have an Unexpected Role in Cancer Survival

Key Points:

• A new study found that cancer patients taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a common class of antidepressants, had a significantly lower mortality rate over two years after starting immunotherapy compared to those taking benzodiazepines.
• SSRIs may enhance cancer immunotherapy by blocking the serotonin transporter, which acts as a brake on cancer-fighting T cells, potentially improving the immune system's ability to attack tumors.
• The research analyzed medical records of patients with depression or anxiety and solid tumors undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment, matching 1,567 SSRI users with an equal number taking benzodiazepines to control for baseline characteristics.
• Despite promising associations, the study could not establish causation due to its observational design, and differences in patient health status or care might partly explain the results; randomized trials are needed to confirm any direct anticancer benefits of SSRIs.
• Researchers caution patients not to start or stop psychiatric medications based on these findings without medical advice, emphasizing that further research is required to determine the appropriate drug, dose, and treatment duration for potential cancer benefits.