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What is the effect of systemic anticancer treatment on cognitive function?

Alessandro Minisini1, Gul Atalay, Andrew Bottomley

  • 1Unit of Medical Oncology, University of Udine, Italy.

The Lancet. Oncology
|May 4, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Anticancer treatments may cause cognitive changes in patients with solid tumors. Further research with robust clinical trials is needed to fully understand these cognitive impairments.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Neuroscience
  • Clinical Trials

Background:

  • Physical toxic effects of cancer treatments are well-documented.
  • Cognitive function impairment from systemic therapy for solid tumors is less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review published studies on cognitive function in adult patients undergoing systemic therapy for solid tumors.
  • To identify the impact of anticancer treatments on cognitive function.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of published studies.
  • Analysis of cognitive function in adult patients with solid tumors receiving systemic therapy.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests that anticancer treatments can lead to cognitive changes in patients.
  • Identified methodological limitations in existing studies include small sample sizes, lack of baseline assessments, and insufficient control for confounding factors.

Conclusions:

  • Anticancer treatments pose a risk of cognitive impairment.
  • There is a need for well-designed, prospective clinical trials with adequate statistical power to fully elucidate treatment-related cognitive difficulties.

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