Immune senescence and exhaustion in breast cancer patients with a history of childhood maltreatment.

Purpose: Child maltreatment has lasting adverse effects on both physical and mental health and is associated with reduced quality of life. In Colombia, this problem remains highly prevalent. Childhood maltreatment has been identified as a risk factor for multiple chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, cancer, and stress-related psychiatric disorders such as major depressive disorder. Early-life exposure to chronic stress is associated with immunological alterations, including increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and the development of a chronic low-grade inflammatory state. Against this background, we investigated the association between a history of childhood maltreatment, systemic low-grade inflammation, and the distribution of leukocyte populations exhibiting features of senescence in patients with breast cancer. Methods: We included 20 women diagnosed with breast cancer, who completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF). Peripheral blood was collected to isolate plasma and PBMCs. Plasma cytokines were measured using a Cytometric Bead Array. Markers of immune senescence and exhaustion in monocytes, NK cells, and T cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: The CTQ-SF assessment revealed a high prevalence of severe-to-extreme childhood maltreatment, with 40% of participants reporting severe physical abuse, 35% severe emotional abuse, and 40% severe physical neglect. Immunologically, CM + patients exhibited significantly higher TNF-α levels and significantly reduced HLA-DR expression on intermediate monocytes compared with CM- patients. Conclusions: This exploratory pilot study suggests that childhood maltreatment may be associated with an altered inflammatory profile in breast cancer patients. Larger prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings and determine their clinical significance.