Published 4 issues per year
ISSN Print: 2160-2468
ISSN Online: 2160-2476
Mental Adaptation to Mammary Cancer and VNTR Genetic Polymorphism of MAO-A
ABSTRACT
In women with early breast cancer, the carriers of the genetic polymorphism variants of serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) conferring low functional activity displayed high anxious preoccupation as mental adaptation to cancer (MAC) at follow-up. Therefore, we examined the role of the genetic polymorphism VNTR of monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) in the same
patients.
Mental adaptation to cancer was assessed using Mini-MAC scales at recruitment and at followup
after 3 months. VNTR polymorphism of MAO-A was determined from blood or oral mucosa samples using conventional laboratory procedures.
Women with the low-functionality activity MAO-A variant displayed significantly less anxious preoccupation at follow-up, as compared to the highly functional ones. No statistically significant
effects of VNTR genotype and time were observed for the other subscales of Mini-MAC.
The genotyping of women with early breast cancer for MAO-A VNTR, in addition and together to that for 5-HTTLPR, may allow the identification of the subjects that are likely to display a reduced reduction of their initial anxious preoccupation at follow-up. Interventions may be thus
be aimed at the subjects in greater need of support. In the case of drug therapy, these results may allow the choice of the drug with the most appropriate mechanism of action and pharmacogenetic properties.