Cognitive impairment in the first year after breast cancer diagnosis: A prospective cohort study

The Ameliorative Effect of Pioglitazone against Neuroinflammation Caused by Doxorubicin in Rats

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a chemotherapeutic agent that is linked with complications such as cardiotoxicity and cognitive dysfunction, known as chemobrain. Chemobrain affects up to 75% of cancer survivors, and there are no known therapeutic options for its treatment. This study aimed to determine the protective effect of pioglitazone (PIO) against DOX-induced cognitive impairment. Forty Wistar female rats were equally divided into four groups: control, DOX-treated, PIO-treated, and DOX + PIO-treated. DOX was administered at a dose of 5 mg/kg, i.p., twice a week for two weeks (cumulative dose, 20 mg/kg). PIO was dissolved in drinking water at a concentration of 2 mg/kg in the PIO and DOX-PIO groups. The survival rates, change in body weight, and behavioral assessment were performed using Y-maze, novel object recognition (NOR), and elevated plus maze (EPM), followed by estimation of neuroinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in brain homogenate and RT-PCR of a brain sample. Our results showed a survival rate of 40% and 65% in the DOX and DOX + PIO groups, respectively, compared with a 100% survival rate in the control and PIO treatment groups at the end of day 14. There was an insignificant increase in body weight in the PIO group and a significant reduction in the DOX and DOX + PIO groups as compared with the control groups. DOX-treated animals exhibited impairment of cognitive function, and the combination PIO showed reversal of DOX-induced cognitive impairment. This was evidenced by changes in IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels and also by mRNA expression of TNF- α, and IL-6. In conclusion, PIO treatment produced a reversal of DOX-induced memory impairment by alleviating neuronal inflammation by modulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines.

CanCOG®: Cultural Adaptation of the Evidence-Based UCLA Cognitive Rehabilitation Intervention Program for Cancer Survivors in Portugal

Cognitive difficulties are highly prevalent and negatively impact cancer survivors' quality of life. The UCLA Cognitive Rehabilitation Intervention Program (in short, UCLA program) is an evidence-based intervention developed and tested in the US to address the cognitive complaints of cancer survivors. Since there are no cognitive rehabilitation programs available for Portuguese cancer-related settings, this study aimed to culturally adapt the UCLA program to Portugal. Nine steps were implemented for this cultural adaptation: needs assessment, initial contacts, translation, cultural adaptation, independent review by a panel of experts (n = 6), focus group discussions with cancer survivors (n = 11), systematization of inputs and improvement of the final materials, fidelity check, and preliminary acceptability assessment. The findings suggested that changes to the original materials were needed. A Portuguese name, "CanCOG^®-Reabilitação Cognitiva no Cancro" (in English "CanCOG^®-Cognitive Rehabilitation in Cancer"), and a logo were created to make it more memorable and appealing for the Portuguese population. The language was adjusted to ensure content accessibility and semantic and conceptual equivalence. Finally, references to several cultural aspects, such as habits, customs, and traditions, were adapted to fit the new cultural context. The UCLA program may be a promising tool to help alleviate the cognitive difficulties reported by cancer survivors in different cultural contexts. Future research is needed to confirm the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of its Portuguese version, "CanCOG^®-Reabilitação Cognitiva no Cancro".

Effectiveness of the Unified Barlow Protocol (UP) and neuropsychological treatment in cancer survivors for cognitive impairments: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background

Cancer survivors frequently develop cognitive impairment, which negatively affects their quality of life and emotional well-being. This study compares the effectiveness of a well-established treatment (neuropsychological treatment) with the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP) to reduce these cognitive deficits and evaluate the effect of both treatments on anxiety-depressive symptoms and the quality of life of cancer survivors.

Methods

A three-arm, randomized superiority clinical trial with a pre-post and repeated follow-up measures intergroup design using a 1:1:1 allocation ratio will be performed. One hundred and twenty-three cancer survivors with mild to moderate cognitive impairment will be randomly assigned to one of the study interventions: a cognitive rehabilitation intervention group, an intervention group with UP intervention, or a control group on the waiting list. The primary outcome is to observe a significant improvement in cognitive function in both intervention groups and a significant decrease in emotional impairments in comparison with the waitlist group. Improvements in anxiety, depression, and quality of life are also expected as secondary outcomes. These results will be maintained at 6 months of follow-up.

Discussion

The aim of this trial is to test the efficacy of the UP intervention in reducing cognitive deficits in breast cancer survivors. The results of this trial may be useful in reducing the presence of cognitive problems in cancer survivors and improving their emotional state and quality of life.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05289258. Registered 12 March 2022, v01.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-022-06731-w.

Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Prostate Cancer, at Cancer Diagnosis and after a One-Year Follow-Up

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most prevalent among men, and psychological symptoms may affect many patients. This study aims to describe the prevalence of probable anxiety and depression before PCa treatments and after one year and to identify sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with these outcomes. Between February 2018 and March 2020, 292 patients recently diagnosed with PCa were recruited at the Instituto Português de Oncologia—Porto. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to define probable anxiety and depression (cutoff = 11). The prevalence of probable anxiety remained stable from baseline to one year (7.8% vs. 8.5%, p = 0.866) while there was an increase in probable depression (3.1% vs. 6.8%, p = 0.012). After one year, probable depression persisted in 55.6% of patients with probable depression at baseline and 47.8% of those with probable anxiety at the first assessment had normal anxiety scores. At baseline, anxiety was more frequent among dwellers in rural areas (adjusted odds ratio—aOR, 95%CI: 2.80, 0.91–8.58) and less frequent in patients with body mass index 25–29.9 kg/m² (aOR, 95%CI: 0.33, 0.12–0.91) compared to 18.5–24.9 Kg/m², while those living alone had higher odds of depression (aOR, 95%CI: 6.35, 1.43–28.30). The frequency of anxiety and depression fluctuated during the course of treatment. Monitoring these symptoms would identify the most affected patients, contributing for a better use of mental health services.

Chemobrain in Breast Cancer: Mechanisms, Clinical Manifestations, and Potential Interventions

Among the potential adverse effects of breast cancer treatment, chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) has gained increased attention in the past years. In this review, we provide an overview of the literature regarding CRCI in breast cancer, focusing on three main aspects. The first aspect relates to the molecular mechanisms linking individual drugs commonly used to treat breast cancer and CRCI, which include oxidative stress and inflammation, reduced neurogenesis, reduced levels of specific neurotransmitters, alterations in neuronal dendrites and spines, and impairment in myelin production. The second aspect is related to the clinical characteristics of CRCI in patients with breast cancer treated with different drug combinations. Data suggest the incidence rates of CRCI in breast cancer vary considerably, and may affect more than 50% of treated patients. Both chemotherapy regimens with or without anthracyclines have been associated with CRCI manifestations. While cross-sectional studies suggest the presence of symptoms up to 20 years after treatment, longitudinal studies confirm cognitive impairments lasting for at most 4 years after the end of chemotherapy. The third and final aspect is related to possible therapeutic interventions. Although there is still no standard of care to treat CRCI, several pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches have shown interesting results. In summary, even if cognitive impairments derived from chemotherapy resolve with time, awareness of CRCI is crucial to provide patients with a better understanding of the syndrome and to offer them the best care directed at improving quality of life.

Prevalence of cognitive impairment following chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Breast cancer survival rates have markedly improved. Consequently, survivorship issues have received increased attention. One common sequel of treatment is chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI). CICI causes a range of impairments that can have a significant negative impact on quality of life. Knowledge of the prevalence of this condition is required to inform survivorship plans, and ensure adequate resource allocation and support is available for sufferers, hence a systematic review of prevalence data was performed. Medline, Scopus, CINAHL and PSYCHInfo were searched for eligible studies which included prevalence data on CICI, as ascertained though the use of self-report, or neuropsychological tests. Methodological quality of included studies was assessed. Findings were synthesised narratively, with meta-analyses being used to calculate pooled prevalence when impairment was assessed by neuropsychological tests. The review included 52 studies. Time-points considered ranged from the chemotherapy treatment period to greater than 10 years after treatment cessation. Summary prevalence figures (across time-points) using self-report, short cognitive screening tools and neuropsychological test batteries were 44%, 16% and 21-34% respectively (very low GRADE evidence). Synthesised findings demonstrate that 1 in 3 breast cancer survivors may have clinically significant cognitive impairment. Prevalence is higher when self-report based on patient experience is considered. This review highlights a number of study design issues that may have contributed to the low certainty rating of the evidence. Future studies should take a more consistent approach to the criteria used to assess impairment. Larger studies are urgently needed.

Four decades of chemotherapy-induced cognitive dysfunction: comprehensive review of clinical, animal and in vitro studies, and insights of key initiating events

Cognitive dysfunction has been one of the most reported and studied adverse effects of cancer treatment, but, for many years, it was overlooked by the medical community. Nevertheless, the medical and scientific communities have now recognized that the cognitive deficits caused by chemotherapy have a strong impact on the morbidity of cancer treated patients. In fact, chemotherapy-induced cognitive dysfunction or 'chemobrain'  (also named also chemofog) is at present a well-recognized effect of chemotherapy that could affect up to 78% of treated patients. Nonetheless, its underlying neurotoxic mechanism is still not fully elucidated. Therefore, this work aimed to provide a comprehensive review using PubMed as a database to assess the studies published on the field and, therefore, highlight the clinical manifestations of chemobrain and the putative neurotoxicity mechanisms.In the last two decades, a great number of papers was published on the topic, mainly with clinical observations. Chemotherapy-treated patients showed that the cognitive domains most often impaired were verbal memory, psychomotor function, visual memory, visuospatial and verbal learning, memory function and attention. Chemotherapy alters the brain's metabolism, white and grey matter and functional connectivity of brain areas. Several mechanisms have been proposed to cause chemobrain but increase of proinflammatory cytokines with oxidative stress seem more relevant, not excluding the action on neurotransmission and cellular death or impaired hippocampal neurogenesis. The interplay between these mechanisms and susceptible factors makes the clinical management of chemobrain even more difficult. New studies, mainly referring to the underlying mechanisms of chemobrain and protective measures, are important in the future, as it is expected that chemobrain will have more clinical impact in the coming years, since the number of cancer survivors is steadily increasing.

Pioneering BRCA1/2 Point-Of-Care Testing for Integration of Germline and Tumor Genetics in Breast Cancer Risk Management: A Vision for the Future of Translational Pharmacogenomics

Research performed in South African (SA) breast, ovarian and prostate cancer patients resulted in the development of a rapid BRCA point-of-care (POC) assay designed as a time- and cost-effective alternative to laboratory-based technologies currently used for first-tier germline DNA testing. In this study the performance of the new assay was evaluated for use on a portable screening device (ParaDNA), with the long-term goal to enable rollout at POC as an inventive step to meet the World Health Organization’s sustainable development goals for Africa. DNA samples for germline testing were obtained retrospectively from 50 patients with early-stage hormone receptor-positive breast cancer referred for genomic tumor profiling (MammaPrint). Currently, SA patients with the luminal-type breast cancer are not routinely selected for BRCA1/2 testing as is the case for triple-negative disease. An initial evaluation involved the use of multiple control samples representing each of the pathogenic founder/recurrent variants included in the BRCA 1.0 POC Research Assay. Comparison with a validated laboratory-based first-tier real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay demonstrated 100% concordance. Clinical utility was evident in five patients with the founder BRCA2 c.7934delG variant, identified at the 10% (5/50) threshold considered cost-effective for BRCA1/2 testing. BRCA2 c.7934delG carrier status was associated with a significantly younger age (p=0.03) at diagnosis of breast cancer compared to non-carriers. In three of the BRCA2 c.7934delG carriers a high-risk MammaPrint 70-gene profile was noted, indicating a significantly increased risk for both secondary cancers and breast cancer recurrence. Initiating germline DNA testing at the POC for clinical interpretation early in the treatment planning process, will increase access to the most common pathogenic BRCA1/2 variants identified in SA and reduce loss to follow-up for timely gene-targeted risk reduction intervention. The ease of using cheek swabs/saliva in future for result generation within approximately one hour assay time, coupled with low cost and a high BRCA1/2 founder variant detection rate, will improve access to genomic medicine in Africa. Application of translational pharmacogenomics across ethnic groups, irrespective of age, family history, tumor subtype or recurrence risk profile, is imperative to sustainably implement preventative healthcare and improve clinical outcome in resource-constrained clinical settings.

Cognitive effects of chemotherapy: An integrative review

PURPOSE

An estimated 18.1 million new cancer cases (excluding nonmelanoma skin cancers) were diagnosed worldwide in 2020. Despite a rising incidence of cancers worldwide, in developed countries with strong healthcare systems, survival rates are improving as a result of early detection, improved treatments and survivorship care (World Health Organisation (WHO), 2021). Whilst living longer, cancer survivors are often living with side effects of treatment, including chemotherapy related cognitive impairment, often termed "chemobrain".

METHOD

An integrative review of contemporary literature answering the research question how does chemotherapy affect cognitive function? was undertaken utilising three computerised databases CINAHL, Medline and PUBMED, between 2015 and 2021. Data was thematically analysed to identify themes within published literature.

RESULTS

Thematic analysis identified four broad themes within the literature regarding chemotherapy induced cognitive impairment. Identified themes included; cognition as part of a complex scenario, proof of existence and searching for the cause, learning to play the game and timing of cognitive impairment.

CONCLUSIONS

Aggressive treatment with chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting has drastically improved the survival of cancer patients. Subsequent to aggressive treatments, side effects such as cognitive impairment have presented, which may persist in the long term. Despite the exact aetiology of chemotherapy induced cognitive impairment being largely unknown, the consequences of the condition are impacting cancer survivors and their quality of life.

The mental health impacts of receiving a breast cancer diagnosis: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis can be a turning point with negative impacts on mental health, treatment and prognosis. This meta-analysis sought to determine the nature and prevalence of clinically significant psychological distress-related symptoms in the wake of a breast cancer diagnosis.

METHODS

Ten databases were searched between March and August 2020. Thirty-nine quantitative studies were meta-analysed.

RESULTS

The prevalence of clinically significant symptoms was 39% for non-specific distress (n = 13), 34% for anxiety (n = 19), 31% for post-traumatic stress (n = 7) and 20% for depression (n = 25). No studies reporting breast cancer patients' well-being in our specific time frame were found.

CONCLUSION

Mental health can be impacted in at least four domains following a diagnosis of breast cancer and such effects are commonplace. This study outlines a clear need for mitigating the impacts on mental health brought about by breast cancer diagnosis. CRD42020203990.

Chemotherapy-related subjective cognitive impairment in breast cancer patients in semi-rural South Africa

Background

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer amongst women worldwide. Whilst current evidence indicates the therapeutic benefits from the use of chemotherapy, self-perceived cognitive difficulties emerged as a frequent occurrence during and after chemotherapy treatment in breast cancer patients.

Aim

The current study sought to investigate self-perceived cognitive impairment in a group of breast cancer patients in semi-rural South Africa.

Setting

The patients were recruited from an outpatient oncology clinic at a semi-rural, tertiary academic hospital in Gauteng, South Africa.

Methods

In a randomised, quantitative, time-based series study, 30 female patients aged 21–60 years (mean age = 50 years) diagnosed with stages II and III breast cancer on CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, fluorouracil) (n = 10) and FAC (fluorouracil, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide) (n = 20) chemotherapy regimens, completed the self-reported Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognition (Fact-Cog) test as a measure of subjective cognitive functioning at three points during the course of treatment (T₀, T₁, T₂).

Results

The results of the paired sample t-tests showed the scores on the Fact-Cog test confirmed significant cognitive decline for both treatment groups from baseline (T₀) to completion (T₂) of chemotherapy; CMF group, t (9) = 2.91, p = 0.017 and the FAC group t (19) = 4.66, p < 0.001.

Conclusion

This study confirms that self-reported subjective cognitive impairment is common in breast cancer patients who received chemotherapy in a sample of South African patients. The results have implications for the overall care of cancer patients.

Contribution

The context-based knowledge engendered by the current study is expected to augment the continuum of care for breast cancer patients.

Trajectories of cognitive performance over five years in a prospective cohort of patients with breast cancer (NEON-BC)

Purpose

To identify trajectories of cognitive performance up to five years since diagnosis and their predictors, in a cohort of patients with breast cancer (BCa).

Methods

A total of 464 women with BCa admitted to the Portuguese Institute of Oncology, Porto, during 2012, were evaluated with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) before any treatment, and after one, three and five years. Probable cognitive impairment (PCI) at baseline was defined based on normative age- and education-specific reference values. Mclust was used to define MoCA trajectories. Receiver Operating Characteristic curves were used to assess the predictive accuracy for cognitive trajectories.

Results

Two trajectories were identified, one with higher scores and increasing overtime, and the other, including 25.9% of the participants, showing a continuous decline. To further characterize each trajectory, participants were also classified as scoring above or below the median baseline MoCA scores. This resulted in four groups: 1) highest baseline scores, stable overtime (0.0% with PCI); 2) lowest baseline scores (29.5% with PCI); 3) mid-range scores at baseline, increasing overtime (10.5% with PCI); 4) mid-range scores at baseline, decreasing overtime (0.0% with PCI). Adding the change in MoCA during the first year to baseline variables significantly increased the accuracy to predict the downward trajectory (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.732 vs. AUC = 0.841, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Four groups of patients with BCa with different cognitive performance trends were identified. The assessment of cognitive performance before treatments and after one year allows for the identification of patients more likely to have cognitive decline in the long term.

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5-year cognitive trajectories since diagnosis of breast cancer were identified.

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25.9% of breast cancer survivors had a declining cognitive trajectory.

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Cognitive performance during the 1st year predicted the 5-year trajectory.

Doxorubicin-Induced Cognitive Impairment: The Mechanistic Insights

Chemotherapy can significantly prolong the survival of patients with breast cancer; Nevertheless, the majority of patients receiving chemotherapy such as doxorubicin may have cognitive deficits that manifest as impairments in learning, reasoning, attention, and memory. The phenomenon of chemotherapy-induced cognitive decline is termed as chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) or chemo-brain. Doxorubicin (DOX), a commonly used drug in adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with breast cancer, has been reported to induce chemo-brain through a variety of mechanisms including DNA damage, oxidative stress, inflammation, dysregulation of apoptosis and autophagy, changes in neurotransmitter levels, mitochondrial dysfunction, glial cell interactions, neurogenesis inhibition, and epigenetic factors. These mechanisms do not operate independently but are inter-related, coordinately contributing to the development of chemo-brain. Here we review the relationships of these mechanisms and pathways in attempt to provide mechanistic insights into the doxorubicin-induced cognitive impairment.

Factors associated with cognitive impairment during the first year of treatment for nonmetastatic breast cancer

Background

Women with breast cancer are more likely to develop cognitive impairment (CI), insomnia, fatigue, and mood disturbance than individuals with other cancers. The main objectives of this study were to establish the prevalence of CI and examine the relationships between CI, insomnia, fatigue, and mood over the first year of breast cancer treatment.

Methods

Participants were recruited after diagnosis and completed validated measures of insomnia, objective and perceived CI, fatigue, and mood disturbance at four time points during the first year of treatment. A random intercepts cross‐lagged panel model assessed relationships among symptoms over time.

Results

The sample included 98 women. Prevalence of objective CI ranged from 3.1% to 8.2% throughout the year, whereas 36.7% demonstrated a clinically meaningful decline in perceived CI from baseline to 4 months, which remained relatively stable. Greater perceived CI was associated with more fatigue (β = −0.78, z = 17.48, p < .01) and symptoms of insomnia (β = −0.58, z = 5.24, p < .01). Short‐term fluctuations in perceived CI (p < .05), but not fatigue or insomnia, predicted future perceived CI. Fatigue (p < .001) was a significant predictor of future reported symptoms of fatigue and insomnia.

Conclusion

Subjective CI is more prevalent than objective impairments. Fatigue, insomnia, and perceived CI remain stable and are associated during the first year of treatment. Changes in insomnia and fatigue may have little effect on future perceived cognition. Women with breast cancer likely require targeted intervention for these side effects.

Longitudinal investigation of cognitive deficits in breast cancer patients and their gray matter correlates: impact of education level

Cognitive deficits are a major complaint in breast cancer patients, even before chemotherapy. Comprehension of the cerebral mechanisms related to cognitive impairment in breast cancer patients remains difficult due to the scarcity of studies investigating both cognitive and anatomical imaging changes. Furthermore, only some of the patients experienced cognitive decline following chemotherapy, yet few studies have identified risk factors for cognitive deficits in these patients. It has been shown that education level could impact cognitive abilities during the recovery phase following chemotherapy. Our main aim was to longitudinally evaluate cognitive and anatomical changes associated with cancer and chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. Our secondary aim was to assess the impact of education level on cognitive performances and gray matter (GM) atrophy in these patients. Twenty patients were included before chemotherapy (T1), 1 month (T2) and 1 year (T3) after chemotherapy. Twenty-seven controls without a history of cancer were assessed at T1 and T3 only. Cluster groups based on education level were defined for both groups and were further compared. Comparison between patients and controls revealed deficits in patients on verbal episodic memory retrieval at T1 and T3 and on executive functions at T3. After chemotherapy, breast cancer patients had GM atrophy that persisted or recovered 1 year after chemotherapy depending on the cortical areas. Increase in GM volumes from T1 to T3 were also found in both groups. At T2, patients with a higher level of education compared to lower level exhibited higher episodic memory retrieval and state anxiety scores, both correlating with cerebellar volume. This higher level of education group exhibited hippocampal atrophy. Our results suggest that, before chemotherapy, cancer-related processes impact cognitive functioning and that this impact seems exacerbated by the effect of chemotherapy on certain brain regions. Increase in GM volumes after chemotherapy were unexpected and warrant further investigations. Higher education level was associated, 1 month after the end of chemotherapy, with greater anxiety and hippocampal atrophy despite a lack of cognitive deficits. These results suggest, for the first time, the occurrence of compensation mechanisms that may be linked to cognitive reserve in relationship to state anxiety. This identification of factors, which may compensate cognitive impairment following chemotherapy, is critical for patient care and quality of life.

Cancer-related cognitive impairment: an update on state of the art, detection, and management strategies in cancer survivors

BACKGROUND

Advances in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in oncology have significantly increased the chance of survival of cancer patients, even those with metastatic disease. However, cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is frequently reported in patients treated for non-central nervous system cancers, particularly during and after chemotherapy.

DESIGN

This review provides an update of the state of the art based on PubMed searches between 2012 and March 2019 on 'cognition', 'cancer', 'antineoplastic agents' or 'chemotherapy'. It includes the most recent clinical, imaging and pre-clinical data and reports management strategies of CRCI.

RESULTS

Evidence obtained primarily from studies on breast cancer patients highlight memory, processing speed, attention and executive functions as the most cognitive domains impaired post-chemotherapy. Recent investigations established that other cancer treatments, such as hormone therapies and targeted therapies, can also induce cognitive deficits. Knowledge regarding predisposing factors, biological markers or brain functions associated with CRCI has improved. Factors such as age and genetic polymorphisms of apolipoprotein E, catechol-O-methyltransferase and BDNF may predispose individuals to a higher risk of cognitive impairment. Poor performance on neuropsychological tests were associated with volume reduction in grey matter, less connectivity and activation after chemotherapy. In animals, hippocampus-based memory and executive functions, mediated by the frontal lobes, were shown to be particularly susceptible to the effects of chemotherapy. It involves altered neurogenesis, mitochondrial dysfunction or brain cytokine response. An important next step is to identify strategies for managing cognitive difficulties, with primary studies to assess cognitive training and physical exercise regimens.

CONCLUSIONS

CRCI is not limited to chemotherapy. A multidisciplinary approach has improved our knowledge of the complex mechanisms involved. Nowadays, studies evaluating cognitive rehabilitation programmes are encouraged to help patients cope with cognitive difficulties and improve quality of life during and after cancer.

Long-Term Fatigue and Cognitive Disorders in Breast Cancer Survivors

Survivors of early-stage breast cancer may report treatment-related side effects that persist for several years after the end of primary treatment. Among these, fatigue and cognitive disorders are frequent complaints and can negatively impact quality of life. Cancer-related fatigue is a very prevalent and distressing long-term side effect among breast cancer survivors that typically improves after completion of treatment, although many patients report severe fatigue several years post-treatment. Cognitive disorders are also common among survivors of breast cancer, especially if treated with chemotherapy. These symptoms are usually mild-to-moderate and often transient. Cognitive recovery is frequently observed within months or a few years after completion of chemotherapy or endocrine therapy. However, some breast cancer survivors may have persistent cognitive difficulties. Several types of interventions have proved to be beneficial in reducing cancer-related fatigue and cognitive difficulties. Most of these interventions for cancer-related fatigue are thought to be effective by reducing inflammation or disrupting pro-inflammatory circuits. Further studies are needed on cognitive management that has showed promising results. This narrative review summarizes the state of the art regarding long-term fatigue and cognitive disorders in patients with early breast cancer, describing prevalence, impact, pathophysiology, and risk factors, and focusing on available interventions.

Doxorubicin and cisplatin induced cognitive impairment: The possible mechanisms and interventions

Chemotherapy has significantly increased the number of cancer survivors. However, chemotherapy itself carries various adverse effects that limit the efficacy of treatment and quality of life of the cancer patients. Most patients who have received chemotherapy report some cognitive deficit characterized by dysfunction in memory, learning, concentration, and reasoning. The phenomenon of cognitive decline developed from chemotherapy treatment is referred to as chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI) or chemobrain. The two most common cancers occurring worldwide are lung and breast cancer. The predominant chemotherapeutic drugs used to treat lung and breast cancer are doxorubicin and cisplatin. There is evidence to suggest that both drugs potentially induce chemobrain. The evidence around the proposed pathogenesis of chemobrain caused by these two drugs is inconsistent. Understanding the underlying mechanisms involved in the development of chemobrain would aid in the prevention or treatment of the adverse effects of chemotherapy on brain. This review will summarize and discuss controversial findings and possible mechanisms involved in the development of chemobrain and the interventions which could limit it from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies.

Neurocognitive Function in Adult Cancer Patients

Impaired neurocognitive function is an increasingly recognized morbidity in patients who have cancer. Cancer treatments, psychosocial stressors, and the malignancy itself can alter brain function. The mechanisms by which this occurs are under active investigation. Although there is a growing appreciation of its prevalence and causes, there remain limited therapeutic options for the treatment of neurocognitive dysfunction in this population. A persistent scientific and clinical effort to understand its mechanisms and impact is critical to the care of oncology patients.

Changes in functional brain networks and neurocognitive function in Chinese gynecological cancer patients after chemotherapy: a prospective longitudinal study

Background

Previous neurocognitive assessments in non-central nervous system cancers highlight the high incidence of neurocognitive dysfunction in this study population. However, there have been few studies exploring neurocognitive dysfunction induced by chemotherapy in gynecological cancer patients. This prospective longitudinal study was conducted to assess neurocognitive functioning and functional brain networks in Chinese gynecological cancer patients pre- and post-chemotherapy, while additionally including age-matched healthy subjects as the control group.

Methods

All research participants were evaluated using a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and neurocognition assessment. Behavioral data were conducted using SPSS for descriptive statistics, correlation and comparison analyses. Preprocessing of MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) data and network analyses were performed using GRETNA (Graph Theoretical Network Analysis).

Results

A total of 40 subjects joined this study, with 20 subjects in each group. With the exception of the mean of psychomotor speed, there was no significant difference pre-chemotherapy between patients and healthy controls in neurocognitive test mean scores (Ps > 0.05). During the post-chemotherapy assessment, there were significant differences in the mean scores of neurocognitive tests (including Digit Span tests, verbal memory, immediate recall, delayed recall, and information processing speed tests) (all Ps < 0 .05). Longitudinal graph analysis revealed statistically significant differences in the patient group, with significant decreases in both local efficiency (P < 0.01) and global efficiency (P = 0.04). Lower raw TMT-A scores were significantly associated with lower local efficiency (r = 0.37, P = 0.03). Lower verbal memory scores were statistically significant and associated with lower global efficiency (r = 0.54, P = 0.02) in the patient group, but not in the healthy control group.

Conclusions

This study found that the risk of brain function and neurocognitive changes following chemotherapy could potentially guide patients in making appropriate treatment decisions, and this study may identify a cohort that could be suited for study of an intervention.

Prevalence and Causes of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in a Population-Based Cohort From Northern Portugal

BACKGROUND

Vascular disease may play an important role in the epidemiology of dementia in countries with high stroke incidence, such as Portugal.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence and etiology of cognitive impairment in a population-based cohort from Portugal.

METHODS

Individuals ≥55 years (n = 730) from the EPIPorto cohort were assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Those scoring below the age-/education-adjusted cutoff points were further evaluated to identify dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and to define its most common causes.

RESULTS

Thirty-six cases of MCI/dementia were identified, corresponding to adjusted prevalences of 4.1% for MCI and 1.3% for dementia. The most common cause of MCI/dementia was vascular (52.8%), followed by Alzheimer's disease (36.1%).

CONCLUSION

These findings highlight the importance of vascular cognitive impairment in the epidemiology of dementia in Portugal and carry an important public health message regarding its prevention and management, possibly extending to other countries with a high-stroke burden.

Mindfulness-based interventions and cognitive function among breast cancer survivors: a systematic review

Background

Breast cancer survivors have an elevated risk of cognitive impairment compared to age-matched women without cancer. Causes of this impairment are complex, including both treatment and psychological factors. Mindfulness-based interventions, which have been shown to improve cognitive function in the general population, may be one approach to mitigate cognitive impairment in this survivor population. Our objective was to conduct a systematic literature review of studies on the effect of mindfulness-based interventions on cognition among breast cancer survivors.

Methods

We conducted searches of three electronic databases (Scopus, PubMed and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews) in September 2017 for studies pertaining mindfulness and cognitive function among breast cancer survivors. Abstracts were manually searched by two reviewers and additional articles were identified through reference lists.

Results

A total of 226 articles were identified through our systematic search and six met inclusion criteria for this review. The reviewed studies lacked consistency in terms of the cognition domains studied (e.g. executive function, recent memory, etc) and in the measures used to assess cognition. Of the included studies, two found no association between mindfulness interventions and cognitive function, two found improvement that was not sustained at the follow-up, and another two found sustained improvement at 2- or 6-months.

Conclusions

Mindfulness-based interventions have shown some evidence for improving cognition among breast cancer survivors, but further research using validated and comprehensive cognitive assessments is needed. More research is also needed related to the timing, duration and content of mindfulness interventions.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-018-5065-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Mammaprint™: a comprehensive review

The number of breast cancer (BC) cases is growing worldwide, being most frequently diagnosed in the early-setting. Mammaprint™ is a 70-gene-expression signature, originally designed for selecting early BC patients with low risk of developing metastasis, so that they could be spared adjuvant chemotherapy. Its use as a prognostic biomarker has been extensively validated, both retrospectively and prospectively. However, its value as a predictive tool and as a clinically useful tool remains controversial. This review will describe how the test works, its application in the clinic and its limitations. Cost-effectiveness studies will be summarized. Finally, we will provide a perspective on the use of Mammaprint in the near future, as a valuable tool for personalizing the treatment of early BC patients.

Quality of life among women diagnosed with breast Cancer: A randomized waitlist controlled trial of commercially available mobile app-delivered mindfulness training

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective was to evaluate the efficacy of commercially available mobile app-delivered mindfulness training (AMT), compared with waitlist control (WC), on quality of life (QOL) among women diagnosed with breast cancer. The secondary outcome was dispositional mindfulness. Enrollment, app utilization, and study completion are reported as feasibility objectives.

METHODS

Women diagnosed with breast cancer ≤5 years (n = 112) were randomized to AMT (n = 57) or WC (n = 55), over 8 weeks, with 4 weeks of follow-up. We conducted linear mixed effects models to examine group by observation interactions on QOL and dispositional mindfulness at baseline, during intervention (5-weeks), post-intervention (9-weeks), and follow-up (12-weeks post-baseline).

RESULTS

Participants assigned to AMT reported higher QOL, compared with those assigned to WC, from baseline through follow-up t(258.40) = 3.09, P < 0.01, 95% CI [2.71, 11.90]. Participants assigned to AMT also reported higher dispositional mindfulness, compared with those assigned to WC, from baseline through follow-up t(268.44) = 2.04, P = 0.04, 95% CI [0.01, 0.57]. App utilization data was obtained from 34 participants. Fewer participants assigned to AMT completed all study assessments, compared with participants assigned to WC, (χ2¹  = 7.07, P = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest commercially available AMT may proffer some benefit to women seeking to enhance their QOL following breast cancer diagnosis.

THE CREATIVE PSYCHOSOCIAL GENOMIC HEALING EXPERIENCE (CPGHE) AND GENE EXPRESSION IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS: A FEASIBILITY STUDY

BACKGROUND

Biomarkers associated with inflammation and immune function are increasingly being used to examine mechanisms of the effects of mind-body therapies. Less researched are biomarkers associated with cognitive and executive functioning in the study of mind-body therapy mechanisms and effects. This study explored the feasibility of recruiting breast cancer patients (BCPs) and implementation fidelity of participation in a research project utilizing the 4-stage Creative Psychosocial Genomic Healing Experience (CPGHE), a mind-body protocol that is theorized to create epigenetic effects via targeted psychological change in emotional triggers in coping with cancer.

METHODS

Eight BCPs were identified as eligible (stages I, II, III, early phases of treatment) and five consented to one of two intervention groups (allocated to a single session or two sessions of CPGHE). Blood draws were examined pre- and post- intervention for a stress/inflammation gene expression marker, Nuclear Factor kappa-B (NF-kB), and three markers associated with synaptic plasticity undergirding cognitive and executive functioning: Early Growth Response 1 (EGR1), activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

RESULTS

One consented BCP dropped out due to illness. The remaining four adhered to the 4-stage CPGHE protocol and found the CPGHE experience beneficial. Blood samples for the gene expression results were collected and processed according to planned protocol without incident.

CONCLUSION

Implementing the CPGHE and achieving good adherence among a sample of BCPs is feasible. Processing of blood samples collected from BCPs for gene expression data is also feasible.

Managing menopausal symptoms after breast cancer - A multidisciplinary approach

More than 6 million women worldwide are living with a past diagnosis of breast cancer. Most survive their illness, and management of the long-term consequences of treatment has become a priority in cancer care. Menopausal symptoms affect most breast cancer survivors and may significantly impair quality of life. We describe a multidisciplinary model to evaluate and manage these women using a patient-focused approach. The 'Multidisciplinary Menopause After Cancer Clinic' includes gynecologists, endocrinologists, GPs, a psychologist and a clinical nurse specialist. Benefits of this model include improved coordination of patient care, education, communication and evidence-based decision making.