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Original Article
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Acute and late onset cognitive dysfunction associated with chemotherapy in women with breast cancer
Article first published online: 28 APR 2010
DOI: 10.1002/cncr.25098
Copyright © 2010 American Cancer Society
Additional Information
How to Cite
Wefel, J. S., Saleeba, A. K., Buzdar, A. U. and Meyers, C. A. (2010), Acute and late onset cognitive dysfunction associated with chemotherapy in women with breast cancer. Cancer, 116: 3348–3356. doi: 10.1002/cncr.25098
Publication History
- Issue published online: 2 JUL 2010
- Article first published online: 28 APR 2010
- Manuscript Accepted: 13 OCT 2009
- Manuscript Revised: 8 JUL 2009
- Manuscript Received: 14 APR 2009
- Abstract
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Keywords:
- cognition disorders;
- memory;
- neuropsychological tests;
- systemic chemotherapy;
- breast neoplasms
Acute decline in cognitive function during and shortly after completion of chemotherapy, as well as late onset cognitive decline, occur in a large proportion of patients. Cognitive decline was not associated with mood changes, but it appears to be consistent with a developing body of animal research demonstrating both acute and late emerging structural brain changes associated with common chemotherapeutic agents.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Growing evidence supports cognitive dysfunction associated with standard dose chemotherapy in breast cancer survivors. We determined the incidence, nature, and chronicity of cognitive dysfunction in a prospective longitudinal randomized phase 3 treatment trial for patients with T1-3, N0-1, M0 breast cancer receiving 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide with or without paclitaxel.
METHODS:
Forty-two patients underwent a neuropsychological evaluation including measures of cognition, mood, and quality of life. Patients were scheduled to be assessed before chemotherapy, during and shortly after chemotherapy, and 1 year after completion of chemotherapy.
RESULTS:
Before chemotherapy, 21% (9 of 42) evidenced cognitive dysfunction. In the acute interval, 65% (24 of 37) demonstrated cognitive decline. At the long-term evaluation, 61% (17 of 28) evidenced cognitive decline after cessation of treatment. Within this group of patients, 71% (12 of 17) evidenced continuous decline from the acute interval, and, notably, 29% (5 of 17) evidenced new delayed cognitive decline. Cognitive decline was most common in the domains of learning and memory, executive function, and processing speed. Cognitive decline was not associated with mood or other measured clinical or demographic characteristics, but late decline may be associated with baseline level of performance.
CONCLUSIONS:
Standard dose systemic chemotherapy is associated with decline in cognitive function during and shortly after completion of chemotherapy. In addition, delayed cognitive dysfunction occurred in a large proportion of patients. These findings are consistent with a developing body of translational animal research demonstrating both acute and delayed structural brain changes as well as functional changes associated with common chemotherapeutic agents such as 5-flouorouracil. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.