Transplantation-Associated Altered Mentation and Encephalopathy: A New Classification for Acute Neurocognitive Changes Associated with Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation from the ASTCT Committee on Practice Guidelines

Acute encephalopathy, manifesting clinically as delirium, is a common but often unrecognized complication of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Delirium can occur in patients of any age and is observed after autologous or allogeneic HCT. Although delirium has been studied primarily during initial HCT hospitalizations in recipients of myeloablative conditioning, recent investigations have identified delirium later post-transplantation and in recipients of reduced-intensity conditioning. Acute encephalopathy can be driven by infectious complications, medications, tissue damage, and/or organ dysfunction. Altered consciousness, either mild or profound, is often its only clinical manifestation. Identifying delirium is essential to overall HCT care, because patients who experience delirium have longer hospitalization and recovery times and are at risk for other poor post-HCT outcomes. Given the critical nature of this common complication and the ongoing expansion of HCT for more vulnerable populations, the American Society of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) recommends intensifying research into post-HCT cognitive changes and establishing standardized definitions that encompass the full spectrum of altered consciousness for clinical care purposes and to provide benchmark endpoints for future research studies. To capture a range of acute neurocognitive changes specifically found in HCT patients (often referred to as acute encephalopathy), the ASTCT proposes a new diagnosis, transplantation-associated altered mentation and encephalopathy (TAME). The TAME diagnosis includes HCT patients who meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria for delirium and those with acute neurocognitive changes who do not meet all the DSM-5 criteria for delirium (subsyndromal delirium). Early TAME is defined as occurring during conditioning or ≤100 days post-HCT, whereas late TAME occurs >100 days post-HCT in patients with additional HCT-related complications. This manuscript establishes clear diagnostic criteria and discusses factors that can potentially impact the development of TAME, as well as the workup and management of TAME.

Association of geriatric measures and global frailty with cognitive decline after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in older adults

INTRODUCTION

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) is increasingly offered to older adults, and its potential impact on cognition in this population is understudied. This work aims to evaluate the ability of cancer-specific geriatric assessments (cGA) and a global frailty index based on accumulation of deficits identified in the cGA to predict the risk of cognitive decline after alloHCT in older adults.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

AlloHCT recipients aged 50 years or older completed a cGA, including a cognitive evaluation by the Blessed Orientation Memory Concentration (BOMC) test, at baseline prior to alloHCT and then at 3, 6, and 12 months after transplant. Baseline frailty was assessed using a deficit accumulation frailty index (DAFI) calculated from the cGA. A multinomial logit model was used to examine the association between predictors (individual cGA measures, DAFI) and the following three outcomes: alive with stable or improved cognition, alive with cognitive decline, and deceased. In post-hoc analyses, analysis of variance was used to compare BOMC scores at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months across frailty categories.

RESULTS

In total, 148 participants were included, with a median age of 62 (range 50-76). At baseline, 12% had cognitive impairment; at one year, 29% of survivors had improved BOMC scores, 33% had stable BOMC, and 37% had worse BOMC. Prior to transplant, 25% were pre-frail and 11% were frail. Individual baseline cGA measures were not associated with cognitive change at one year as assessed by BOMC. Adjusting for age, sex, and education, those who were frail at baseline were 7.4 times as likely to develop cognitive decline at one year than those who were non-frail, although this finding did not reach statistical significance (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74-73.8, p = 0.09). The probability of being alive with stable/improved cognition at 12 months for the non-frail, pre-frail, and frail groups was 43%, 34%, and 8%, respectively.

DISCUSSION

Baseline geriatric measures and frailty were not significantly associated with cognitive change as assessed by BOMC in adults aged 50 or older after alloHCT. However, the study was underpowered to detect clinically meaningful differences, and future work to elucidate potential associations between frailty and cognitive outcomes is warranted.

Remote assessment of cognitive dysfunction in hematologic malignancies using web-based neuropsychological testing

BACKGROUND

Cognitive impairment is a frequent adverse effect of cancer and its therapies. As neuropsychological assessment is not often standard of care for patients with non-CNS disease, efficient, practical assessment tools are required to track cognition across the disease course. We examined cognitive functioning using a web-based cognitive testing battery to determine if it could detect differences between patients with cancer and controls.

METHODS

We enrolled 22 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and 40 healthy controls (mean age = 56 ± 11 years, 52% male). Participants completed the BrainCheck cognitive testing battery and online versions of select measures from the Patient Reported Outcome Measures Information System (PROMIS) during a video conference. MANOVA was used to compare BrainCheck and PROMIS scores between groups controlling for age and sex. An exploratory linear regression analysis was conducted within the cancer group to determine potential contributors to cognitive functioning.

RESULTS

All participants except for one control completed the online assessment measures without difficulty. Compared to controls, the cancer group demonstrated significantly lower scores in objective and subjective cognitive function, physical functioning, and social role performance and elevated fatigue scores. Corticosteroid treatment, immunotherapy, lower physical functioning, lower income, and older age significantly contributed to lower cognitive function (adjusted R²  = 0.925, F = 19.63, p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Remote assessment of cognitive and psychosocial functioning is feasible with patients with cancer following treatments. The BrainCheck cognitive testing battery has the potential to detect differences in cognition between patients with cancer and controls.

Neurocognitive Impairment After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant for Hematologic Malignancies: Phenotype and Mechanisms

Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) plays a central role in the treatment of hematologic cancers. With the increasing survival of patients after HSCT, survivorship issues experienced by this population have become an important outcome. Cognitive impairment is an established sequela of HSCT, with studies to date establishing its presence, associated risk factors, and clinical phenotype. There are multiple potential contributors to cognitive impairment after HSCT. Efforts are ongoing to further characterize its clinical phenotype, associated biomarkers, and biologic underpinnings. A fundamental knowledge of post-HSCT cognitive impairment is of value for all clinicians who interface with this population, and further academic efforts are needed to more fully understand the impact of this cancer treatment on brain health. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: As survival outcomes after hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) improve, an awareness of the post-treatment challenges faced by this population has become central to its care. HSCT can have a sustained and broad impact on brain health, causing cognitive dysfunction, fatigue, disturbed mood, and sleep. In affected patients, autonomy, return to work, relationships, and quality of life may all be affected. A fundamental fluency in this area is important for clinicians interfacing with HSCT survivors, facilitating the identification and management of cognitive dysfunction and concurrent symptom clusters, and stimulating interest in these sequelae as areas for future clinical research.

Cognitive functioning of older adults prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Hematopoietic cell transplantation is increasingly used in older adults with hematological malignancies. Younger adult patients who undergo HCT have shown to commonly present with cognitive impairment and depression prior to transplant; however, little research has been done to understand the cognitive and emotional functioning of older adults undergoing HCT. This study aimed to investigate the rate of cognitive impairment in a retrospective sample of older adult HCT candidates prior to transplant using a comprehensive battery. Ninety-three patients over the age of 60 completed a neuropsychology test battery that assessed standard domains of cognitive and emotional functioning. Impairment was defined as z-scores = < -1.5 on at least two tests or a z score = < -2.0 on at least one test. Results indicated that over 68% of patients were impaired with nearly a third of the sample showing impairment in verbal learning and memory and approximately one fifth showing impairments in aspects of executive function, processing speed, and visual learning. Ten percent of the patients endorsed symptoms indicative of a clinical level of depression. Medical comorbidities nor depression predicted cognitive impairment. These findings suggest that older adults candidates for HCT are at risk for cognitive impairment prior to transplant and thus cognition should be a consideration when developing treatment plans.

Cognitive function in patients prior to undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

PURPOSE

Cognitive impairment is common and consequential in patients with cancer who undergo allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, there is no standard of care for evaluating cognition in patients prior to or after receiving HSCT, and it is not known which patients are at highest risk for cognitive impairment. The objectives of this study were to describe cognitive function in patients prior to allogeneic HSCT and identify demographic, disease-related, and psychosocial factors associated with cognitive function.

METHODS

Prior to HSCT, participants completed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). We assessed bivariable associations between continuous MoCA scores and demographic, disease-related, and psychosocial variables using linear regression. Variables significant at the p < 0.2 level were adjusted for age, sex, and years of education in multiple linear regression analyses.

RESULTS

Over 50% of participants demonstrated evidence of cognitive impairment (MoCA < 26) prior to transplantation. When adjusted for demographic variables, two characteristics were significantly associated with worse cognitive function: the hematopoietic cell transplantation-comorbidity index score (p = 0.01) and history of alcohol or substance abuse (p = 0.02). Pre-HSCT cancer and cancer treatment-specific variables were not associated with cognitive function.

CONCLUSION

Cognitive impairment is common in patients scheduled to receive HSCT. Pre-transplantation evaluation of medical comorbidities and history of substance abuse may be important in identifying patients at risk for cognitive impairment. Further research characterizing the trajectory and impact of cognitive impairment on patient symptom burden and function may help improve outcomes.

Feasibility of an online cognitive rehabilitation programme in patients with a haematological malignancy undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation

BACKGROUND

Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a known adverse event that can impact cancer survivors, resulting in long-standing effect on quality of life and activities of daily living. Currently, there is limited knowledge regarding the aetiology and therapy for CRCI. Although CRCI following autologous stem cell transplantation (AuSCT) is emerging as a potentially significant concern for patients with underlying haematological malignancies, it is an area that requires further research.

AIMS

This pilot study aimed to assess (i) the prevalence of CRCI in patients with haematological malignancies both pre-AuSCT and post-AuSCT and (ii) the feasibility of a cognitive rehabilitation programme (CRP) in survivorship care post-AuSCT.

METHODS

Over a 12-month period, consecutive patients planned for AuSCT were approached for the study. Enrolled patients were administered a 9-week course of CRP, commencing day 40 ± 5 post-AuSCT. Participants were evaluated using a neuropsychological tool and validated questionnaires at baseline, pre-CRP (day 40 ± 5 post-AuSCT), post-CRP and 6 months post-CRP.

RESULTS

Thirty-two patients were enrolled. The mean age was 59 years (SD = 11.5), 23 (72%) were male and 18 (56%) had multiple myeloma. Participants reported high satisfaction using the CRP, and most devoted significant amount of time as requested.

CONCLUSIONS

While there appeared to be a low incidence of significant CRCI in our patient population, the incorporation of CRP in survivorship care appeared to be feasible. A larger randomised study examining the efficacy of CRP should be further explored.

Longitudinal exploration of cancer-related cognitive impairment in patients with newly diagnosed aggressive lymphoma: protocol for a feasibility study

INTRODUCTION

Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a distressing and disabling side-effect of cancer treatments affecting up to 75% of patients. For some patients, their cognitive impairment may be transient, but for a subgroup, these symptoms can be long-standing and have a major impact on the quality of life. This paper describes the protocol for a study: (1) to assess the feasibility of collecting longitudinal data on cognition via self-report, neuropsychological testing, peripheral markers of inflammation and neuroimaging and (2) to explore and describe patterns of cancer-related cognitive impairment over the course of treatment and recovery in patients with newly diagnosed, aggressive lymphoma undergoing standard therapy with curative intent.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a prospective, longitudinal, feasibility study in which 30 newly diagnosed, treatment-naive patients with aggressive lymphoma will be recruited over a 12-month period. Patients will complete comprehensive assessments at three time points: baseline (time 1, pre-treatment) and two post-baseline follow-up assessments (time 2, mid-treatment and time 3, 6-8 weeks post-treatment completion). All patients will be assessed for self-reported cognitive difficulties and objective cognitive function using Stroop Colour and Word, Trail Making Test Part A and B, Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised, Controlled Oral Word Association and Digit Span. Blood cell-based inflammatory markers and neuroimaging including a positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-labelled fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (18F-FDG) and CT (18F-FDG-PET/CT) and a MRI will explore potential inflammatory and neuroanatomical or functional mechanisms and biomarkers related to CRCI. The primary intent of analysis will be to assess the feasibility of collecting longitudinal data on cognition using subjective reports and objective tasks from patients during treatment and recovery for lymphoma. These data will inform the design of a larger-scale investigation into the patterns of cognitive change over the course of treatment and recovery, adding to an underexplored area of cancer survivorship research.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval has been granted by Austin Health Human Rights Ethics Committee (HREC) in Victoria Australia. Peer reviewed publications and conference presentations will report the findings of this novel study.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12619001649101).

Design of a randomized placebo controlled trial of high dose intravenous thiamine for the prevention of delirium in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

BACKGROUND

Delirium is a highly prevalent and preventable neuropsychiatric condition with major health consequences. Thiamine deficiency is a well-established cause of delirium in those with chronic, severe alcoholism, but there remains an underappreciation of its significance in non-alcoholic populations, including patients with cancer. Treatment of suspected thiamine-related mental status changes with high dose intravenous (IV) thiamine has preliminary evidence for improving a variety of cognitive symptoms in oncology inpatient settings but has never been studied for the prevention of delirium in any population.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of this clinical trial is to determine if high dose IV thiamine can prevent delirium in patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for treatment of cancer. Secondary objectives are to determine if thiamine status is predictive of delirium onset and if high dose IV thiamine can attenuate the deleterious impact of delirium on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), functional status, and long-term neuropsychiatric outcomes.

METHODS

In this phase II study, we are recruiting 60 patients undergoing allogeneic HSCT, randomizing them to treatment with high dose IV thiamine (n = 30) versus placebo (n = 30), and systematically evaluating all participants for delirium and related comorbidities. We use the Delirium Rating Scale to measure the severity and duration of delirium during hospitalization for HSCT. We obtain thiamine levels weekly during the transplantation hospitalization. We assess HRQOL, functional status, depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and cognitive function prior to and at one, three, and six months after transplantation.

Pretransplantation Cognitive Dysfunction in Advanced-Age Hematologic Cancers: Predictors and Associated Outcomes

Patients presenting for treatment of hematologic cancers may be at increased risk for cognitive dysfunction before allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) due to advanced age, previous chemotherapy treatment, deconditioning, and fatigue. Cognitive dysfunction may affect treatment decision making, ability to recall or follow post-HSCT treatment recommendations and overall survival (OS). A total of 448 patients admitted for HSCT between 2011 and 2014 were administered the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) by occupational therapists during admission before transplantation, and 260 were reassessed following transplantation and before discharge. We examined select predictor variables, including age, Karnofsky Performance Status, sex, disease type, psychotropic medications, and select outcome variables, including OS, and nonrelapse mortality (NRM). Before transplantation, 36.4% of patients met criteria for cognitive dysfunction. Age was found to be a significant predictor, along with disease type (myelodysplastic syndrome [MDS], myeloproliferative disorder [MPD]). No significant association was found between cognitive dysfunction and OS or NRM. Longitudinal analysis from pretransplantation to post-transplantation indicated significant decline following HSCT. Notably, one-third of the study cohort showed cognitive dysfunction at hospital discharge. A significant proportion of HSCT candidates present with cognitive dysfunction, with older patients and those diagnosed with MDS and MPD at greatest risk in this cohort. Attention to cognitive dysfunction before transplantation may alert the treatment team to high-risk cases that require increased oversight, inclusion by caregivers, and referral to occupational therapy at discharge. Longitudinal follow-up studies are needed to clarify the specific effect of HSCT on cognitive dysfunction and the impact of cognitive dysfunction on transplantation outcomes.

A mixed methods analysis of perceived cognitive impairment in hematopoietic stem cell transplant survivors

OBJECTIVE

Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) survivors may show evidence of objective cognitive impairment; however, perceived cognitive problems and their impact on quality of life are less well-understood. The purpose of this study was to explore HSCT survivors' perceptions of cognitive impairment and its effect on daily life functioning.

METHOD

Sixty-nine autologous and allogeneic HSCT survivors nine months to three years posttransplant experiencing mild survivorship problems completed a brief structured interview regarding perceived cognitive impairment since transplant. Data were coded and content analyzed. The frequency of participants reporting cognitive problems by domain and associations between reports of cognitive problems and age, depressed mood, anxiety, and health-related quality of life were examined.

RESULT

Overall, 49 of the 69 participants (71%) reported cognitive impairments after transplant: 38 in memory (55%), 29 in attention and concentration (42%), and smaller numbers in other domains. There were no significant differences in problems reported by transplant type. Of the 50 participants who worked before transplant, 19 (38%) did not return to work following transplant, with 12 citing cognitive and health problems as being the reason. There were significant associations between reports of cognitive impairment and younger age (p = 0.02), depressed mood (p = 0.02), anxiety (p = 0.002), and health-related quality of life (p = 0.008).

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS

A large proportion of survivors reported cognitive impairment following HSCT that impaired daily life functioning. Perceived cognitive impairment was associated with younger age, greater distress and reduced health-related quality of life.

Predictors of the trajectory of cognitive functioning in the first 6 months after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Certain subgroups of patients may be particularly vulnerable to cognitive decline after treatment with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT). The objective of this study was to identify predictors of cognitive functioning changes within the first 6 months after HCT. Fifty-eight adults treated with allogeneic HCT (53% male, mean 48 years of age) completed neuropsychological tests of learning/memory, psychomotor efficiency/processing speed, and executive functioning/working memory at three time points: pre-HCT and day 100 and 6 months post transplant. On average, there was significant improvement in learning/memory (p = 0.002), psychomotor efficiency/processing speed (p < 0.0001), and executive functioning/working memory (p < 0.0001), at 6 months. Multilevel modeling identified predictors of divergence from this trajectory; Karnofsky performance status <80 was associated with worsening learning/memory over time; peak severity of acute graft-versus-host disease >=Grade 2 was associated with worsening psychomotor efficiency/processing speed; and greater years of education predicted a faster improvement in psychomotor efficiency/processing speed. Other factors were associated with cognitive functioning over time: higher intelligence quotient (IQ) was associated with better cognitive functioning, and older age, being male, and greater pretransplant comorbidities were associated with worse cognitive functioning. Overall, cognitive performance appears to improve over the first 6 months after transplant. However, pretransplant and posttransplant factors may influence this trajectory.

Therapeutic Options for Mucopolysaccharidoses: Current and Emerging Treatments

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are inborn errors of metabolism produced by a deficiency of one of the enzymes involved in the degradation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Although taken separately, each type is rare. As a group, MPS are relatively frequent, with an overall estimated incidence of around 1 in 20,000-25,000 births. Development of therapeutic options for MPS, including hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), has modified the natural history of many MPS types. In spite of the improvement in some tissues and organs, significant challenges remain unsolved, including blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration and treatment of lesions in avascular cartilage, heart valves, and corneas. Newer approaches, such as intrathecal ERT, ERT with fusion proteins to cross the BBB, gene therapy, substrate reduction therapy (SRT), chaperone therapy, and some combination of these strategies may provide better outcomes for MPS patients in the near future. As early diagnosis and early treatment are imperative to improve therapeutic efficacy, the inclusion of MPS in newborn screening programs should enhance the potential impact of treatment in reducing the morbidity associated with MPS diseases. In this review, we evaluate available treatments, including ERT and HSCT, and future treatments, such as gene therapy, SRT, and chaperone therapy, and describe the advantages and disadvantages. We also assess the current clinical endpoints and biomarkers used in clinical trials.

Worsening cognitive performance is associated with increases in systemic inflammation following hematopoietic cell transplantation

BACKGROUND

Cognitive decline is a frequently cited concern among patients receiving hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), and patients often experience neurocognitive deficits (i.e., stable or worsening neurocognitive performance) throughout the transplant course. Deficits can be most severe during the acute transplant period (i.e., 90 days after transplantation), when patients also typically experience elevated systemic levels of inflammation. Previous studies have identified inflammation as a likely mechanism underlying neurocognitive deficits, primarily in women with breast cancer; however, longitudinal studies have been limited. In this study, our aim was to evaluate the relationship between changes in systemic inflammation and changes in cognition from pre- to post-transplant in patients receiving allogeneic HCT.

METHODS

Patients scheduled for allogeneic HCT (n = 85) were assessed prior to HCT and 90 days after HCT. Biomarkers of inflammation included IL-6, sTNF-RII, CRP, and IL-1ra, which have been previously associated with neurocognitive deficits in cancer patients. Patients completed neuropsychological testing and self-report questionnaires.

RESULTS

Mixed models demonstrated that from pre- to post-HCT, increases in IL-6 and sTNF-RII were associated with neurocognitive deficits, and decreases in CRP were associated with better neurocognitive performance. There were no significant associations between changes in inflammation and self-reported cognitive performance.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings are the first to our knowledge to report a robust relationship between increasing inflammation and neurocognitive deficits from pre- to post-HCT. Additional studies are needed to confirm these findings in a larger sample.

Chemobrain as a Product of Growing Success in Chemotherapy - Focus on Glia as both a Victim and a Cure

Chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment or chemobrain is a frequent consequence of cancer treatment with many psychiatric features. Ironically, the increasing efficacy of chemotherapy leaves growing number of patients alive with chemobrain. Therefore, there is an urgent need for strategies capable of returning cancer survivors back to their pre-morbid quality of life. Molecular mechanisms of chemobrain are largely unknown. Over the last decade there was a lot of emphasis in preclinical research on inflammatory consequences of chemotherapy and oxidative stress but so far none of these approaches were translated into clinical scenario. The co-administration of chemotherapy with protective agents was evaluated preclinically but it should be introduced with caution as potential interference was not yet studied and that could blunt therapeutic efficacy. Stem cell-based regenerative medicine approach has so far been exploited very sparsely in the context of chemobrain and the focus was on indirect mechanisms or neuronal replacement in the hippocampus. However, there is evidence for widespread white matter abnormalities in patients with chemobrain. This is quite logical considering life-long proliferation and turnover of glial cells, which makes them vulnerable to chemotherapeutic agents. Feasibility of glia replacement has been established in mice with global dysmyelination where profound therapeutic effect has been observed but only in case of global cell engraftment (across the entire brain). While global glia replacement has been achieved in mice translation to clinical setting might be challenging due to much larger brain size. Therefore, a lot of attention should be directed towards the route of administration to accomplish widespread cell delivery. Techniques facilitating that broad cell distribution including intra-arterial and intrathecal methods should be considered as very compelling options. Summarizing, chemobrain is a rapidly growing medical problem and global glia replacement should be considered as worthwhile therapeutic strategy.

The Role of Age in Neurocognitive Functioning among Adult Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients

Improvements in supportive care have enabled allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) to be performed in increasingly older patients. HCT is associated with neurocognitive impairment, which may be exacerbated in older adults due to normal neurocognitive decline associated with aging. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether increasing age of allogeneic HCT recipients is associated with worse neurocognitive outcomes over time relative to a matched sample of individuals without cancer. Patients (n = 140; 42% female; M age, 51 years; range, 20 to 76 years; 31% with acute myelogenous leukemia) completed neurocognitive assessments before transplantation and 3 months and 1 year after transplantation. Controls (n = 75; 56% female; M age, 53 years; range, 21 to 74 years) completed assessments at comparable time intervals. Linear mixed models revealed that regardless of age, patients demonstrated worse performance than controls before transplantation in verbal memory, visual memory, and total neuropsychological performance, and over time in executive functioning. In addition, older age was associated with worse performance in verbal memory (P = .02) and verbal fluency (P = .05) over time in patients compared with controls. Specifically, older (65+ years) patients had worse verbal memory and verbal fluency than older and younger (<65 years) controls post-transplantation (Cohen's d = .22 to .39). These data indicate that age may be a risk factor for worse neurocognitive outcomes after allogeneic HCT. If replicated, our results suggest that older candidates for allogeneic HCT should be counseled regarding the risk of cognitive problems after transplantation.

Cognitive function and its relationship to other psychosocial factors in lymphoma survivors

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of cognitive disturbance in lymphoma survivors and to explore relationships between cognitive function and other psychosocial factors.

METHODS

A package of standardized questionnaires was sent to 622 lymphoma patients treated at the Ottawa Hospital in the preceding 5 years. Patients with central nervous system involvement were excluded. The questionnaires addressed cognitive function, pain, insomnia, fatigue, and mood. Of the patients in the sampling frame, 54 % responded to the survey and 42 % met inclusion/exclusion criteria. Sixteen percent (99/622) agreed to undergo computerized neuropsychological testing with CNS vital signs (CNSVS). Scores on the objective and subjective cognitive measures were compared to those of a healthy female control group from a previous study.

RESULTS

The lymphoma group scored significantly lower than the controls on a cognitive rating scale (p = .018) and on CNSVS (p = .035). The difference on the CNSVS was primarily due to poorer attention and executive function scores in the lymphoma patients. The patients also had a higher frequency of impairment on both the objective (p = .009) and subjective (p < .001) cognitive measures. Among the lymphoma survivors, fatigue and anxiety were related to subjective cognitive disturbance (p < .001 for both), whereas pain was the only psychosocial measure associated with objective cognitive performance (p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that cognitive disturbance may be a significant survivorship issue for lymphoma patients and should be more thoroughly investigated in this population.

Prospective assessment of white matter integrity in adult stem cell transplant recipients

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is often used in the treatment of hematologic disorders. Although it can be curative, the pre-transplant conditioning regimen can be associated with neurotoxicity. In this prospective study, we examined white matter (WM) integrity with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and neuropsychological functioning before and one year after HSCT in twenty-two patients with hematologic disorders and ten healthy controls evaluated at similar intervals. Eighteen patients received conditioning treatment with high-dose (HD) chemotherapy, and four had full dose total body irradiation (fTBI) and HD chemotherapy prior to undergoing an allogeneic or autologous HSCT. The results showed a significant decrease in mean diffusivity (MD) and axial diffusivity (AD) in diffuse WM regions one year after HSCT (p-corrected <0.05) in the patient group compared to healthy controls. At baseline, patients treated with allogeneic HSCT had higher MD and AD in the left hemisphere WM than autologous HSCT patients (p-corrected <0.05). One year post-transplant, patients treated with allogeneic HSCT had lower fractional anisotropy (FA) and higher radial diffusivity (RD) in the right hemisphere and left frontal WM compared to patients treated with autologous HSCT (p-corrected <0.05).There were modest but significant correlations between MD values and cognitive test scores, and these were greatest for timed tests and in projection tracts. Patients showed a trend toward a decline in working memory, and had lower cognitive test scores than healthy controls at the one-year assessment. The findings suggest a relatively diffuse pattern of alterations in WM integrity in adult survivors of HSCT.

Monitoring and optimising cognitive function in cancer patients: Present knowledge and future directions

The potentially detrimental effects of cancer and related treatments on cognitive functioning are emerging as a key focus of cancer survivorship research. Many patients with central nervous system (CNS) or non-CNS tumours develop cognitive problems during the course of their disease that can result in diminished functional independence. We review the state of knowledge on the cognitive functioning of patients with primary and secondary brain tumours at diagnosis, during and after therapy, and discuss current initiatives to diminish cognitive decline in these patients. Similarly, attention is paid to the cognitive sequelae of cancer and cancer therapies in patients without CNS disease. Disease and treatment effects on cognition are discussed, as well as current insights into the neural substrates and the mechanisms underlying cognitive dysfunction in these patients. In addition, rehabilitation strategies for patients with non-CNS disease confronted with cognitive dysfunction are described. Special attention is given to knowledge gaps in the area of cancer and cognition, in CNS and non-CNS diseases. Finally, we point to the important role for cooperative groups to include cognitive endpoints in clinical trials in order to accelerate our understanding and treatment of cognitive dysfunction related to cancer and cancer therapies.

National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Project on Criteria for Clinical Trials in Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease: V. The 2014 Ancillary Therapy and Supportive Care Working Group Report

The 2006 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus paper presented recommendations by the Ancillary Therapy and Supportive Care Working Group to support clinical research trials in chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Topics covered in that inaugural effort included the prevention and management of infections and common complications of chronic GVHD, as well as recommendations for patient education and appropriate follow-up. Given the new literature that has emerged during the past 8 years, we made further organ-specific refinements to these guidelines. Minimum frequencies are suggested for monitoring key parameters relevant to chronic GVHD during systemic immunosuppressive therapy and, thereafter, referral to existing late effects consensus guidelines is advised. Using the framework of the prior consensus, the 2014 NIH recommendations are organized by organ or other relevant systems and graded according to the strength and quality of supporting evidence.

A prospective evaluation of changes in brain structure and cognitive functions in adult stem cell transplant recipients

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an efficacious treatment for many hematologic malignancies. However, the conditioning regimen of high-dose (HD) chemotherapy with or without total body irradiation (TBI) can be associated with neurotoxicity. In this prospective study, we used quantitative neuroimaging techniques to examine regional gray matter and ventricular volumes, and standardized neuropsychological tests to assess cognitive function before and 1 year after HSCT in 28 patients with hematologic malignancies and in ten healthy controls evaluated at similar intervals. Nineteen patients received conditioning treatment with HD chemotherapy alone and nine had both TBI and HD chemotherapy. There was a significant reduction in gray matter volume in the middle frontal gyrus bilaterally and in the left caudate nucleus in the patient group (all patients combined) but not among healthy controls over the 1-year follow-up period. There was a significant increase in left lateral ventricle volume and in total ventricle volume in the patient group, relative to healthy controls. Similar brain structural changes were seen for patients treated with HD chemotherapy alone. The neuropsychological results showed that 21% of patients could be classified as impaired at baseline. The Reliable Change Index suggested no significantly different rates of cognitive decline between patients and healthy controls. The findings suggest that HSCT patients may be at an increased risk for developing regional brain volume loss, and that subgroups may experience cognitive dysfunction prior to and 1 year following the transplant.

Monitoring and optimising cognitive function in cancer patients: Present knowledge and future directions

The potentially detrimental effects of cancer and related treatments on cognitive functioning are emerging as a key focus of cancer survivorship research. Many patients with central nervous system (CNS) or non-CNS tumours develop cognitive problems during the course of their disease that can result in diminished functional independence. We review the state of knowledge on the cognitive functioning of patients with primary and secondary brain tumours at diagnosis, during and after therapy, and discuss current initiatives to diminish cognitive decline in these patients. Similarly, attention is paid to the cognitive sequelae of cancer and cancer therapies in patients without CNS disease. Disease and treatment effects on cognition are discussed, as well as current insights into the neural substrates and the mechanisms underlying cognitive dysfunction in these patients. In addition, rehabilitation strategies for patients with non-CNS disease confronted with cognitive dysfunction are described. Special attention is given to knowledge gaps in the area of cancer and cognition, in CNS and non-CNS diseases. Finally, we point to the important role for cooperative groups to include cognitive endpoints in clinical trials in order to accelerate our understanding and treatment of cognitive dysfunction related to cancer and cancer therapies.

Cross-sectional study of patient-reported neurobehavioral problems following hematopoietic stem cell transplant and health-related quality of life

OBJECTIVE

Although hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients may experience neurocognitive impairment, experiences of neurobehavioral problems (including apathy and disinhibition) are understudied. These experiences reflect behavioral signs and symptoms of neurological dysfunction that can potentially reduce health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Understanding them is important because they may be confused with other diagnoses, including depression, potentially leading to inappropriate treatments. The objectives of this preliminary cross-sectional study were to describe HSCT patients' neurobehavioral functioning pre-HSCT and post-HSCT and to examine relations with HRQOL.

METHODS

Patients (n = 42) 9 months to 3 years post-HSCT completed measures of neurobehavioral functioning to report apathy and disinhibition pre-HSCT (retrospectively) and post-HSCT (currently). Paired t-tests and McNemar tests were used to explore differences in the incidence of patient-reported neurobehavioral problems within and across time points. Regression analyses were conducted to examine relations between neurobehavioral functioning and physical and mental HRQOL.

RESULTS

Elevated levels of apathy were reported by many patients post-HSCT (36%) and increased significantly from pre-HSCT to post-HSCT (p = 0.001). Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that higher levels of apathy were associated with reduced mental HRQOL (p < 0.05) even after controlling for depressed mood and fatigue.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings from this preliminary study highlight the importance of investigating neurobehavioral problems, particularly apathy, in HSCT patients. Because apathy is often confused with other diagnoses and may worsen HRQOL, understanding the nature of these symptoms has implications for interventions. Further research is needed in this important area.

Acute cognitive impairment in patients with multiple myeloma undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant

BACKGROUND

Few studies have examined the acute effects of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Au-HSCT) on the neuropsychological functioning of patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The prevalence of cognitive deficits after induction chemotherapy (pre-AuHSCT) was examined in patients with MM, clinically significant changes in cognitive function 1 and 3 months post-AuHSCT were determined, and patients who may be vulnerable to cognitive decline during this period were identified.

METHODS

A total of 53 patients with MM were recruited pre-AuHSCT. Neuropsychological tests measuring multiple cognitive domains (attention, psychomotor speed, learning/memory, language, executive function, motor function) were administered pre-AuHSCT and 1 and 3 months post-AuHSCT. A pretreatment assessment was not available. An Overall Cognitive Function Index was computed to determine cognitive impairment pre-AuHSCT, and a practice-effect-adjusted Reliable Change Index was used to determine cognitive change over time.

RESULTS

Overall, deficits were more frequent in learning/memory, executive function, motor function, and psychomotor speed. Before AuHSCT, 47% of patients (25/53) exhibited cognitive impairment as determined by the Overall Cognitive Function Index. One month post-AuHSCT, 49% of patients (20/41) demonstrated clinically significant decline on 1 or more measures; 3 months post-AuHSCT, 48% (14 of 29 patients) showed decline on 1 or more measures. Older patients, minorities, and those with advanced disease, more induction cycles, or postinduction deficits showed greater vulnerability to decline.

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly half of the patients showed vulnerability to impairment in learning/memory or executive function after receiving induction therapy, and the prevalence of impairment remained high post-AuHSCT. Awareness of cognitive impairment and associated risk factors in actively treated patients is important for considering psychosocial or other support for patients with acute cognitive symptoms.

Cognitive change and neuroimaging following immunoablative therapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in multiple sclerosis: A pilot study

BACKGROUND

Individuals with MS undergoing immunoablative therapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) show substantial decrease in brain volume over 2.4 months, presumably from chemotoxic effects, although other mechanisms have also been postulated.

OBJECTIVE

We examined whether volume loss was accompanied by a concomitant decrease in cognition. White and gray matter volumes, and the effect of stem cell dosage were considered.

METHODS

Seven individuals with rapidly progressing MS and poor prognosis underwent high dose immunosuppression and autologous HSCT. Neuropsychological testing and MRI scans were performed at baseline, 2 and 24 months post-procedure.

RESULTS

Cognitive impairment was noted at all times in most participants. Median decline of 1.39% in total brain volume was noted 2 months post-HSCT. By 24 months a further decline of 1.65% was noted. At 2 months significant decline was observed for areas of executive functioning. At 24 months almost no significant declines were noted. No significant correlations were found between cognitive decline and change in imaging variables or stem cell dosage.

CONCLUSIONS

Cognition changed in the early period following treatment but with little apparent relationship to volume changes. With temporal distance from the HSCT procedure, cognition returned to baseline levels. With the caution of a very small sample, preliminary results suggest that immunoablation and HSCT may have no lasting deleterious effects on cognition.

Predictors of neuropsychological change in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome

This study examined the course of neuropsychological functioning in patients with chronic myelogeous leukemia (n = 91) or myelodysplastic syndrome (n = 15) who underwent standard treatment for their disease or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) at baseline, 12 months, and 18 months post-treatment. At baseline, 23% of the participants (n = 75) in the longitudinal sample had Z-scores on at least one of the neuropsychological tests that were <1.4. Participants in the study showed improvement over baseline at the 12 and 18 months assessments. The average Z-scores for the six cognitive domains in the longitudinal data set over the course of the study ranged from -0.89 to 0.59. Significant predictors of change in neuropsychological test scores included age, with older participants showing less improvement over time. Other predictors included baseline cognitive domains (language, memory, and attention), previous cocaine use, disease status, intelligence quotient, and quality of life measures. Findings support previous studies in patients with hematological malignancies who showed cognitive impairments at baseline prior to HSCT. However, there was little evidence for further cognitive decline over the course of 18 months.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of changes in cognitive functioning in adults undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation

Evidence is mixed regarding the effects of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) on changes in cognitive functioning among adults. Meta-analysis, which is designed to help reconcile conflicting findings, has not yet been conducted on studies of adults receiving HCT. To fill this gap, the current study provides a systematic review and meta-analysis of cognitive functioning in adults receiving HCT. A search of PubMed, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library yielded 732 abstracts, which were independently evaluated by pairs of raters. Seventeen studies were systematically reviewed; eleven were retained for meta-analysis. There was agreement that cognitive impairments are evident for a subset of patients prior to HCT. Meta-analytic findings of 404 patients revealed no significant changes in cognitive functioning pre- to post-HCT (P values > .05). Age, time since transplant, and total body irradiation were not associated with changes in cognitive functioning. Patients who received autologous transplants were more likely to demonstrate improvements in attention (P = .004). The systematic review identified several limitations of existing literature, including small, clinically heterogeneous samples. Large, cooperative group studies are needed to address these design limitations. Nevertheless, results from the current meta-analysis suggest that cognitive functioning does not significantly change following HCT.

Increase of suicide and accidental death after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a cohort study on behalf of the Late Effects Working Party of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)

BACKGROUND

Relapse and transplant-related complications are leading causes of mortality after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Suicides and accidents have not been studied in these patients. This study sought to determine whether there is an excess of suicide and accidental deaths after HSCT, and to determine risk factors.

METHODS

The incidence of suicidal and accidental death in patients after undergoing HSCT, standardized mortality ratio (SMR), and absolute excess risk (AER) of suicide and accidental deaths was determined, compared with the general European population. A case-control analysis was done to define factors associated with suicide and accidental deaths. Data were derived from the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation Registry, including 294,922 patients who underwent autologous or allogeneic HSCT from 1980 to 2009.

RESULTS

The 10-year cumulative incidence of suicide and accidental deaths was 101.8 and 55.6 per 100,000 patients, respectively. SMR and AER of suicide after HSCT were 2.12 (P < .001) and 10.91, higher than in the European general population for 100,000 deaths, respectively. SMR and AER of accidental death were 1.23 (P < .05) and 2.54, respectively. In the case-control study, relapses were more frequent among patients who committed suicide after autologous HSCT (37% versus 18%; P < .0001). Chronic graft-versus-host disease was higher among patients who committed suicide after allogeneic HSCT (64% versus 37%; P = .001).

CONCLUSIONS

There is an excess of deaths due to suicide and accidents in patients after undergoing HSCT as compared with the European general population. Relapse was associated with more suicide and accidental deaths after autologous HSCT, and chronic graft-versus-host disease was associated with more deaths by suicide after allogeneic HSCT. Cancer 2013;119:2012–2021. © 2013 American Cancer Society.

Hematopoietic stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis: top 10 lessons learned

Reports from more than 600 hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) have appeared in the medical literature for the last 1 and one-half decades. The patient's own stem cells are harvested and stored temporarily while high doses of chemotherapy and biologics are used to destroy the auto-destructive immune system. The immune system is regenerated from the infused autologous hematopoietic stem cells. Increasing clinical experience has refined patient selection criteria and management in the peri-transplant period leading to a reduction in treatment-related complications. HSCT, when used to treat patients with aggressive highly active multiple sclerosis, can reduce or eliminate ongoing clinical relapses, halt further progression, and reduce the burden of disability in some patients, in the absence of chronic treatment with disease-modifying agents. The top 10 lessons learned from the growing experience using HSCT for the treatment of multiple sclerosis are discussed.

Cognitive functioning in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients and its medical correlates: a prospective multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Owing to its neurotoxicity, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) carries risks for cognitive impairment. In this multicenter study, we prospectively evaluated cognitive functioning and its medical and demographic correlates in patients undergoing allogeneic HSCT.

METHODS

A total of 102 patients were consecutively assessed prior to (T0 ), 100 ± 20 days (T1 ) after, and 12 ± 1 months (T2 ) after HSCT (61% men, 41% acute myeloid leukemia). A comprehensive neuropsychological test battery was applied to evaluate attention, memory, executive function, and fine motor function, summing up into 14 test scores.

RESULTS

Before and after HSCT, patients performed below test norms in up to 50% of the test scores. Patients were mostly impaired on word fluency (24%, T0 ), fine motor function, and verbal delayed recall (19% each, T2 ). Impairment on ≥ 1/5 cognitive domains occurred in 47% (T0 ) and 41% (T2 ) of the patients. Performance (mean z-scores) partially improved over time (i.e., visual span forward, verbal learning, and word fluency). However, from baseline to T2 , 16% of the patients showed reliable decline on ≥ 3/14 test scores (reliable change index method). For the majority of neuropsychological subtests, no associations with conditioning intensity, total body irradiation, graft-versus-host disease, cyclosporine treatment, and length of hospital stay were found. Age and premorbid intelligence level were consistently associated with cognition.

CONCLUSIONS

Below average cognitive performance is common in this patient group. In addition, a subgroup shows reliable cognitive decline after allogeneic HSCT. Healthcare professionals should be aware of these treatment-related cognitive side effects.

Evidence-based indicators of neuropsychological change in the individual patient: relevant concepts and methods

Repeated assessments are a relatively common occurrence in clinical neuropsychology. The current paper will review some of the relevant concepts (e.g., reliability, practice effects, alternate forms) and methods (e.g., reliable change index, standardized based regression) that are used in repeated neuropsychological evaluations. The focus will be on the understanding and application of these concepts and methods in the evaluation of the individual patient through examples. Finally, some future directions for assessing change will be described.

Clinical predictors of cognitive function in adults treated with hematopoietic cell transplantation

BACKGROUND

Studies suggest that patients with cancer who undergo hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) are at risk for cognitive deficits. To date, little research has investigated the cumulative effects of clinical risk factors on cognitive function in patients who undergo HCT.

METHODS

Patients (N = 278) who were scheduled to undergo HCT for hematologic disease completed neuropsychological assessments before HCT and at 6 months and 12 months after HCT. A time-varying cumulative clinical risk variable was examined as a predictor of total neuropsychological performance (TNP). Cumulative clinical risk was calculated from pre-HCT neuropsychological risk factors (eg, history of cranial irradiation, intrathecal chemotherapy), HCT-related risk factors (eg, allogeneic transplantation, unrelated donor), and post-HCT complications (eg, severity of mucositis and enteritis, graft-versus-host disease).

RESULTS

Patients with greater cumulative clinical risk displayed worse TNP at baseline and at 6 months after HCT and less neuropsychological recovery over time than patients who had less risk (Ps < .05). Greater cumulative clinical risk predicted worse performance on tasks assessing executive function at baseline and 6 months after HCT and assessing memory at 6 months and 12 months after HCT (Ps < .05). Among risk variables, length of hospital stay was the only significant predictor of neuropsychological function (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings from this study indicated that clinical risk factors may have a cumulative effect on cognitive function in patients who undergo HCT. Patients who have a complicated clinical course should be referred for evaluation and management of cognitive deficits.

Predictors of health-related quality of life in patients treated with auto- and allo-SCT for hematological malignancies

Identifying factors that predict health-related quality of life (QOL) following hematopoietic SCT, is important in estimating patients' abilities to adjust to the consequences of their disease and treatment. As the studies that have been published on this subject are scattered, the present study aimed to systematically review prognostic factors for health-related QOL after auto- and allo-SCT in hematological malignancies. A systematic, computerized search in Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library was conducted from 2002 to June 2010. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using an adaptation of Hayden's criteria list. Qualitative data synthesis was performed to determine the strength of the scientific evidence. In all, 35 studies fulfilled the selection criteria. Strong-moderate evidence was found for GVHD, conditioning regimen, being female, younger age, receiving less social support and pre-transplant psychological distress as predictors of various aspects of health-related QOL following hematopoietic SCT. The results of this review may help transplant teams in selecting patients at risk for experiencing a diminished health-related QOL following hematopoietic SCT. Follow-up treatment can be provided in order to promote QOL.

Prospective neurocognitive function over 5 years after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for cancer survivors compared with matched controls at 5 years

PURPOSE

Research has documented cognitive deficits both before and after high-dose treatment followed by allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), with partial recovery by 1 year. This study prospectively examined the trajectory and extent of long-term cognitive dysfunction, with a focus on 1 to 5 years after treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Allogeneic HCT recipients completed standardized neuropsychological tests including information processing speed (Trail Making A and Digit Symbol Substitution Test), verbal memory (Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised), executive function (Controlled Oral Word Association Test and Trail Making B), and motor dexterity and speed (Grooved Pegboard). Survivors (n = 92) were retested after 80 days and 1 and 5 years after transplantation. Case-matched controls (n = 66) received testing at the 5-year time point. A Global Deficit Score (GDS) summarized overall impairment. Response profiles were analyzed using linear mixed effects models.

RESULTS

Survivors recovered significant cognitive function from post-transplantation (80 days) to 5 years in all tests (P < .0001) except verbal recall (P > .06). Between 1 and 5 years, verbal fluency improved (P = .0002), as did executive function (P < .01), but motor dexterity did not (P > .15), remaining below controls (P < .0001) and more than 0.5 standard deviation below population norms. In GDS, 41.5% of survivors and 19.7% of controls had mild or greater deficits (NcNemar test = 7.04, P = .007).

CONCLUSION

Although neurocognitive function improved from 1 to 5 years after HCT, deficits remained for more than 40% of survivors. Risk factors, mechanisms and rehabilitation strategies need to be identified for these residual deficits.