The role of psychiatry in quality of life in young patients with non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is often seen in geriatric patients, with an age of onset of approximately 60 years. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States and around the world. Young patients are rarely diagnosed with lung cancer, with less than 3.5% of patients presenting with this tumor at an age less than 45. In this paper, we examine NSCLC in young patients, between 18 and 35 years of age, which most commonly occurs in non-smokers and is characterized by a higher proportion of adenocarcinoma histology and advanced disease at presentation. These patients often present with metastasis involving one organ and they test positive for driver gene mutations including, but not limited to, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) sensitive mutation and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). We addressed depression and anxiety and their effect on quality of life (QOL) and attempted to examine how improvement in QOL in these young patients could affect their course of illness and prognosis. METHODS: We conducted a literature review using PubMed, Cochrane, and Google search. We concentrated our search on two elements, reviewing approximately 50 articles focusing on the driver mutations EGFR and ALK as well as genetic mapping of lung adenocarcinoma in patients aged 18–35 years old. We also conducted a review of approximately 30 articles focusing on quality of life in the context of anxiety and depression within this patient population. RESULTS: We have described a case of a 28-year-old male with new-onset metastatic lung adenocarcinoma that we had treated in our hospital. He was found to have mutations in EGFR and ALK rearrangement. We aimed to address his depression, anxiety, and poor QOL in the context of his diagnosis. Due to his presenting symptoms leading to the diagnosis of adjustment disorder, he was treated with pharmacotherapy as well as conventional therapy to improve his QOL. Due to the time required to identify mutations, our patient passed away before a more targeted treatment could be offered. CONCLUSION: It is important to fully explore the nature of the cancer, including mutation types. Our case demonstrates that the detection of the driver gene mutation EGFR and/or ALK rearrangement could affect treatment and prognosis in this patient population. There are many studies available that highlight targeted therapies for these mutations as well as chemotherapy and radiation. Psychiatry has a significant role in improving quality of life in these patients, which could enhance their response to treatment and survival. Involving psychiatry early in the course results in lower rates of depression, anxiety and premature death.