Tandospirone augments cisplatin treatment by lowering cholesterol and managing distress in NSCLC patients.

Emotional distress (ED), including anxiety and depression, is highly prevalent in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and may compromise both quality of life and treatment outcomes. In this study, we evaluated the mental health status of 1185 surgically treated NSCLC patients and developed a predictive model integrating clinical and demographic factors. Adjuvant therapy after lung cancer surgery was associated with an increased risk of ED, particularly chemotherapy. To address safety concerns, we further examined commonly used anti-ED drugs in experimental models and found no evidence of tumor-promoting effects. Importantly, tandospirone not only alleviates ED but also enhances the therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin. These findings highlight the clinical importance of systematic ED management in lung cancer care and suggest tandospirone as a promising candidate that may simultaneously support psychological well-being and improve chemotherapy response, offering a more comprehensive treatment strategy for NSCLC patients.