The effects of spiritual intervention and changes in dopamine receptor gene expression in breast cancer patients

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in females in Iran and in most of the developed countries. Studies have shown that having chronic stress in individuals predisposes several types of cancer including breast cancer. Research results showed that spiritual factors correlate with indices of physical consequences such as heart disease, cancer, and death, so do psychiatric conditions and changes in receptor gene expression in depression, anxiety, and social dysfunction. Different studies demonstrated the role of neurotransmitters in occurrence and progression of cancers. They affected cells by their various types of receptors. An effective gene in mental and physical conditions is Dopamine receptor. Accordingly, the study was conducted to evaluate effects of psychotherapy (spiritual intervention) on changes in Dopamine receptor gene expressions in breast cancer patients. 90 female volunteers, including 30 healthy individuals and 60 diagnosed with breast cancer, considering exclusion criteria, were selected for the purpose of the study. The breast cancer patients were further categorized into experimental and control groups of 30 each. Blood samples were collected both prior to and following the spiritual intervention to analyze changes in their dopamine gene receptor expressions. We observed that DRD2-DRD4 in the control group (breast cancer patients) PBMC increased compared to healthy individuals. Also, DRD2-DRD4 in intervention group PBMC decreased compared to the control group and to even lower than those of healthy individuals. The findings were of great significance in management and treatment of cancer because they revealed the possibility of using alternative treatments (e.g., spiritual interventions) apart from conventional medical treatments.

The Relationship of Pre and Early Postnatal Risk Factors with Breast Cancer

“…These are not the only risk factors, also the psychospiritual and social factors will affect the fetus as well as his/her mom (Ariana et al, 2018;Akbari et al, 2016). Our study did not prove the effect of this aspect of health, which may be due to the shortage of number of cases.…”

The Islamic Perspective of Spiritual Intervention Effectiveness on Bio-Psychological Health Displayed by Gene Expression in Breast Cancer Patients

“…Obtained results, as thoroughly explained in our previous study ( 15 ), from peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples analyzed by Real time-PCR collected from patients who underwent the conventional treatment together with the spiritual intervention showed significant reduction in dopamine gene receptor expressions in comparison with those of pre-test scores and the control group ( Tables 2 and 3 ).…”

“…Therefore, due to the fact that stressful events can weaken the immune system and transform the disease from primary stages of neoplasm growth to higher stages of cancer ( 40 ), spiritual intervention can generate peace by reducing stress. As a result, by affecting the nervous system, it can regulate and balance in immune cell receptors ( 15 ).…”

“…To put it in Motahari’s terminology, spirituality in view of Quran is the basis for perfection, and it is mostly faith in God and right deeds and behavior or in other words: serving God. In the main study, which is the first one of its kind in the world, conducted by the authors on these very principles, we managed to revive spiritual behaviors in a group of cancer patients leading to changes (the cell biological changes begin with changes in its genes) in their gene receptor expressions so much that genetic stress factors were controlled and the patients were able to experience significantly calmer and more peaceful ( 15 ). This is due to the fact that, based on a literature review, with chronic stress, dopamine concentration increases leading to an inhibitory effect on T-cells which in turn expands cancer ( 16 ).…”

A Qualitative Study on Belief, Perception, and Health Effects on Standing Zikr Among Thai Muslims in Nakhon Nayok Province

“…These neurological processes will decrease pain signals to the brain reducing the pain perception (Sitepu, 2009). Moreover, according to genetic medicine, Zikr is one of spiritual interventions described to reduce cell proliferation in breast cancer patients by changing dopamine receptor gene expression (Akbari, Kashani, Ahangari, Pornour, Hejazi, Nooshinfar, Lotfi, & Hosseini, 2016;Hosseini, Kashani, Akbari, Akbari, & Mehr, 2016) related to the study reported that chronic stress demonstrates dopamine concentration increases leading to an inhibitory effect of T-cells which in turn expands cancer (Mancino, Ametller, Gascón, & Almendro, 2011). Thus, these studies showed that Standing Zikr is a spiritual intervention which can improve in many health outcomes.…”