New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Neurotoxic effects of chemotherapies on cognition in breast cancer survivors

Date:
December 3, 2015
Source:
The JAMA Network Journals
Summary:
Cancer-related cognitive impairment is often referred to as 'chemobrain' and anthracycline-based chemotherapy may have greater negative effects on particular cognitive domains and brain network connections than nonanthracycline-based regimens, according to an article.
Share:
FULL STORY

Cancer-related cognitive impairment is often referred to as 'chemobrain' and anthracycline-based chemotherapy may have greater negative effects on particular cognitive domains and brain network connections than nonanthracycline-based regimens, according to an article published online by JAMA Oncology.

Chemotherapy for breast cancer is often associated with cognitive problems in patients. However, it is unclear whether certain regimens are associated with greater cognitive difficulties than others.

Shelli R. Kesler, Ph.D., of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, and Douglas W. Blayney, M.D., of the Stanford University School of Medicine, California, compared the effects of anthracycline and nonanthracycline chemotherapy regimens on cognitive status and functional brain connectivity in a small study.

The authors used cognitive tests and imaging data from 62 primary breast cancer survivors (average age nearly 55) who were, on average, more than two years off therapy to examine cognitive status and functional brain connectivity. Of the women, 20 received anthracycline-based chemotherapy as part of their primary treatment, 19 received nonanthracycline regimens and 23 did not receive any chemotherapy.

Women treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy had lower verbal memory, including immediate recall and delayed recall, compared with the other two groups of women. The anthracycline regimens also were associated with lower default mode brain network connectivity, suggesting a decreased efficiency of information processing, according to the study.

Patient-reported outcomes of cognitive dysfunction and psychological distress were elevated in both groups of women treated with chemotherapy compared with patients treated without chemotherapy, the results indicate.

"These results should be considered preliminary given the study limitations of small sample size and retrospective, cross-sectional design, Larger, prospective studies are needed that include pretreatment and posttreatment assessments so that patients' individual cognitive and neurobiologic trajectories can be evaluated with respect to potential ANTHR [anthracycline]-related neurotoxic effects," the study concludes.


Story Source:

Materials provided by The JAMA Network Journals. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Shelli R. Kesler, Douglas W. Blayney. Neurotoxic Effects of Anthracycline- vs Nonanthracycline-Based Chemotherapy on Cognition in Breast Cancer Survivors. JAMA Oncology, 2015; 1 DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2015.4333

Cite This Page:

The JAMA Network Journals. "Neurotoxic effects of chemotherapies on cognition in breast cancer survivors." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 3 December 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151203122205.htm>.
The JAMA Network Journals. (2015, December 3). Neurotoxic effects of chemotherapies on cognition in breast cancer survivors. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 4, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151203122205.htm
The JAMA Network Journals. "Neurotoxic effects of chemotherapies on cognition in breast cancer survivors." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151203122205.htm (accessed December 4, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES