Assessment of Cancer‐Related Cognitive Impairments Across Anti‐Cancer Therapies in a Predominantly Breast Cancer Cohort
7 affiliations
- 1Division of Physical Activity, Cancer Prevention and Survivorship German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg, a Partnership Between DKFZ and University Medical Center Heidelberg Heidelberg Germany
- 2Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg Heidelberg Germany
- 3Division of Sports Medicine Institute for Sport and Sport Science, TU Dortmund University Dortmund Germany
- 4School of Psychology, SRH University of Applied Sciences Heidelberg Heidelberg Germany
- 5Department for General and Applied Linguistics Ruprecht‐Karls‐University Heidelberg Heidelberg Germany
- 6Network Aging Research (NAR), Ruprecht‐Karls‐University Heidelberg Heidelberg Germany
- 7Division of Gynecological Oncology National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg Heidelberg Germany
Abstract
Cancer survivors frequently experience cancer‐related cognitive impairment (CRCI), but the contributions of different anti‐cancer therapies remain unclear. Patients with breast or gynaecological cancer were recruited before any anti‐cancer treatment. Cognitive function was assessed by objective and subjective measures pre‐treatment (T0), post‐treatment (T1), and 1 year after T1 (T2). Objective measures include Hopkins Verbal Learning Test‐Revised (HVLT‐R), Trail Making Test (TMT), Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWA), and Mnemonic Similarity Task (MST). Subjective measures include Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—Cognitive scale (FACT‐Cog) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ‐C30). Linear mixed models were performed. Patients (n = 234) were of age 55.4 ± 11.6 years. At T1, chemotherapy was associated with worse visual searching and motor speed (TMT‐A: β = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.03–0.69), perceived global function (FACT‐Cog Global Function: β = −0.39, 95% CI: −0.67 to −0.11), and cognitive function (EORTC QLQ‐C30: β = −0.50, 95% CI: −0.82 to −0.18) compared to endocrine therapy. At T2, endocrine therapy was associated with poorer verbal learning and memory performance (HVLT‐R total recall: β = −0.40, 95% CI: −6 to −0.03) and higher perceived cognitive impairments (FACT‐Cog PCI: β = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.05–0.63). In conclusion, CRCI may occur during certain types of chemotherapy but appears to ameliorate over time. Ongoing endocrine therapy may have longer‐lasting impact on cognitive function. Appropriate counselling for informed decision making and good supportive care is needed.
Related
- Efficacy of Personalizing Cognitive Remediation for Schizophrenia by Targeting Impairments in Early Auditory Processing
- Blood–Brain Barrier (BBB)-Permeable Ethanolamine-Type Plasmalogens 18:0/20:4 (PE-PLS 18:0/20:4) Ameliorate Cognitive Impairments in Aged Mice
- Aluminum Chloride-Induced Planarian Model with Cognitive Impairments Through Neuronal Damage, Neurotransmitter Imbalance, Apoptosis, and Oxidative Stress
- Sex- and age-related heterogeneity in obstructive sleep apnea phenotypes in a predominantly Afro-Caribbean population
- Optimal doses of cognitive digital therapeutics for pediatric patients with cognitive impairments: A retrospective study based on big data
BibTeX
@article{lei2026assessment,
title = {{Assessment of Cancer‐Related Cognitive Impairments Across Anti‐Cancer Therapies in a Predominantly Breast Cancer Cohort}},
author = {Qiqi Lei and Martina E. Schmidt and Philipp Zimmer and Patric Meyer and Andreas Schneeweiss and Karen Steindorf},
journal = {International Journal of Cancer},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1002/ijc.70691},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.70691},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Assessment of Cancer‐Related Cognitive Impairments Across Anti‐Cancer Therapies in a Predominantly Breast Cancer Cohort
AU - Qiqi Lei
AU - Martina E. Schmidt
AU - Philipp Zimmer
AU - Patric Meyer
AU - Andreas Schneeweiss
AU - Karen Steindorf
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/07
JO - International Journal of Cancer
DO - 10.1002/ijc.70691
UR - https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.70691
AB - Cancer survivors frequently experience cancer‐related cognitive impairment (CRCI), but the contributions of different anti‐cancer therapies remain unclear. Patients with breast or gynaecological cancer were recruited before any anti‐cancer treatment. Cognitive function was assessed by objective and subjective measures pre‐treatment (T0), post‐treatment (T1), and 1 year after T1 (T2). Objective measures include Hopkins Verbal Learning Test‐Revised (HVLT‐R), Trail Making Test (TMT), Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWA), and Mnemonic Similarity Task (MST). Subjective measures include Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—Cognitive scale (FACT‐Cog) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ‐C30). Linear mixed models were performed. Patients (n = 234) were of age 55.4 ± 11.6 years. At T1, chemotherapy was associated with worse visual searching and motor speed (TMT‐A: β = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.03–0.69), perceived global function (FACT‐Cog Global Function: β = −0.39, 95% CI: −0.67 to −0.11), and cognitive function (EORTC QLQ‐C30: β = −0.50, 95% CI: −0.82 to −0.18) compared to endocrine therapy. At T2, endocrine therapy was associated with poorer verbal learning and memory performance (HVLT‐R total recall: β = −0.40, 95% CI: −6 to −0.03) and higher perceived cognitive impairments (FACT‐Cog PCI: β = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.05–0.63). In conclusion, CRCI may occur during certain types of chemotherapy but appears to ameliorate over time. Ongoing endocrine therapy may have longer‐lasting impact on cognitive function. Appropriate counselling for informed decision making and good supportive care is needed.
SN - 0020-7136
SN - 1097-0215
ER -