Janelsins MC, et al. - Authors assessed the trajectory and severity of cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) in patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy in specific cognitive domains. Multiple cognitive domains were found to be affected by CRCI in these patients for at least 6 months post-chemotherapy.

Methods

• In this nationwide, prospective, observational study conducted within the National Cancer Institute Community Clinical Oncology Research Program, researchers evaluated trajectories in specific cognitive domains in patients with breast cancer (stage I-IIIC) receiving chemotherapy, from pre- (A1) to post-chemotherapy (A2) and from pre-chemotherapy to 6 months post-chemotherapy (A3); controls were assessed at the same time-equivalent points.
• By means of longitudinal mixed models (including A1, A2, and A3) and adjusting for age, education, race, cognitive reserve score, and baseline anxiety and depressive symptoms, visual memory was assessed using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery Delayed Match to Sample test.

Results

• Researchers evaluated 580 patients with breast cancer (mean age, 53.4 years) and 363 control participants (mean age, 52.6 years).
• On the Delayed Match to Sample test, a significant group-by-time effect was revealed by the longitudinal mixed model results (P < 0.005); over time from pre-chemotherapy (A1) to 6 months post-chemotherapy, patients declined (A3; P=0.005), but control participants did not change (P=0.426).
• Findings suggested significant group difference between patients and control participants, thereby, revealing declines in the former but not the latter (P=0.017).
• Compared with control participants, several other models of computerized, standard, and telephone tests indicated significantly worse performance by patients from pre- to post-chemotherapy and from prechemotherapy to 6 months post-chemotherapy.