Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2025

Quantifying Cognitive Decrements Caused by Cranial Radiotherapy
Published on: October 18, 2011
Chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment and its long-term development in patients with breast cancer: results from
Anna Kerkmann1, Christian Schinke1,2, Adam Dordevic1,3
1Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Klinik für Neurologie mit Experimenteller Neurologie, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
Background:
Chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI) is a well-recognized side effect of breast cancer treatment. However, prospective long-term evaluations of CICI using standardized neuropsychological tests are scarce.
Patients And Methods:
This prospective longitudinal cohort study investigated cognitive dysfunction and its impact on quality of life and everyday functioning in patients with breast cancer receiving first-line chemotherapy compared to patients with breast cancer without chemotherapy. Assessment occurred prior to chemotherapy, postchemotherapy (median 6 months), and 2-3 years later. We used standardized neuropsychological tests, questionnaires, and scales to assess patients' quality of life and functioning. Additionally, serum analysis for neurodegenerative markers and autoantibodies was conducted.
Results:
We included n = 53 patients. Overall cognitive function declined statistically significantly (P = .046) postchemotherapy compared to control patients, mostly driven by a reduced figural memory (P = .011). Patients who received chemotherapy showed a greater reduction in quality of life (increased fatigue symptoms, P = .023; reduced Karnofsky index, P < .001); however, without a statistically significant effect on cognitive decline. The neurodegenerative markers Neurofilament light chain (NfL) and phosphorylated Neurofilament heavy chain (pNfH) increased statistically significantly (P < .001) postchemotherapy and pNfH correlated with overall cognitive function. After 2-3 years, both cognitive performance and quality of life were comparable between chemotherapy-treated and control patients.
Conclusion:
Our findings suggest that chemotherapy statistically significantly contributes to overall cognitive dysfunction in patients with breast cancer, which disappears after 2-3 years, indicating a recovery in both objectively measurable cognitive function and subjective quality of life. Future research should examine larger sample sizes and explore screening indicators, particularly pNfH.
Related Concept Videos
Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
Cancer Survival Analysis
Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
Inhibition of Cdk Activity
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists

