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Chemotherapy-Related Cognitive Dysfunction

  • Neuro-Oncology (LE Abrey, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 26 April 2012

Abstract

Many cancer patients develop treatment-related cognitive dysfunction that affects their quality of life and can result in diminished functional independence. There is an emerging body of transdisciplinary research demonstrating that chemotherapeutic agents can produce neurobiological changes within the brain, which are associated with a constellation of cognitive changes that can result in decreased quality of life and functional independence. The increased incidence of cancer, coupled with longer survival times, has resulted in larger numbers of cancer survivors who are struggling with this neurotoxicity. This review summarizes the neuropsychological findings in patients with breast and brain cancer who receive systemic chemotherapy as well as the recent animal and imaging research elucidating the mechanisms by which these therapies impact brain structure, function, and consequent behavior.

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Disclosure

Conflicts of interest: J.S. Wefel: has been a consultant for Roche, Eli Lilly, Genentech, Exelixis, and Geron; and has received grant support from AstraZeneca; S.B. Schagen: none.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuro-Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 431, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Jeffrey S. Wefel

  2. Department of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066, CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Sanne B. Schagen

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  1. Jeffrey S. Wefel
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  2. Sanne B. Schagen
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Correspondence to Jeffrey S. Wefel.

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Jeffrey S. Wefel and Sanne B. Schagen Contributed equally

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Wefel, J.S., Schagen, S.B. Chemotherapy-Related Cognitive Dysfunction. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 12, 267–275 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-012-0264-9

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