Background: Increased density of 5-HT2A receptors was observed in the platelets of depressive patients with suicidal ideation. Enhanced 5-HT2A receptor-mediated platelet calcium mobilization has been proposed as a biological marker for the pathophysiology of major depression in cancer patients as well as in physically healthy patients. To examine whether depressive cancer patients with suicidal ideation have enhanced 5-HT2A receptor-mediated platelet response compared with those without suicidal ideation, we compared 5-HT-induced platelet calcium mobilization in depressive cancer patients with and without suicidal ideation.
Methods: 5-HT-induced platelet calcium mobilization was examined in 24 cancer patients diagnosed as having major depression according to the DSM-IV criteria. Suicidal ideation was evaluated by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Zung's Self Depression Scale, as well as by the DSM-IV criteria.
Results: There was no significant differences in 5-HT-induced platelet calcium response between the depressive cancer patients with (n = 8) and without suicidal ideation (n = 16). 5-HT-induced platelet calcium response was also not significantly associated with the severity of suicidal ideation or with the severity of depression assessed by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Zung's Self Depression Scale.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that enhanced 5-HT2A receptor-mediated response was not associated with suicidal ideation in cancer patients with depression.