Long-Term Cognitive Dysfunction in Cancer Survivors

作者：Zuzana Országhová, Michal Mego, Michal Chovanec · 发表于：Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences · 年份：2021 · DOI：10.3389/fmolb.2021.770413 · 被引用次数：179 · 研究领域：Cancer-related cognitive impairment studies、Glioma Diagnosis and Treatment、Brain Metastases and Treatment

Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a frequent side effect experienced by an increasing number of cancer survivors with a significant impact on their quality of life. Different definitions and means of evaluation have been used in available literature; hence the exact incidence of CRCI remains unknown. CRCI can be described as cognitive symptoms reported by cancer patients in self-reported questionnaires or as cognitive changes evaluated by formal neuropsychological tests. Nevertheless, association between cognitive symptoms and objectively assessed cognitive changes is relatively weak or absent. Studies have focused especially on breast cancer patients, but CRCI has been reported in multiple types of cancer, including colorectal, lung, ovarian, prostate, testicular cancer and hematological malignancies. While CRCI has been associated with various treatment modalities, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and novel systemic therapies, it has been also detected prior to cancer treatment. Therefore, the effects of cancer itself with or without the psychological distress may be involved in the pathogenesis of CRCI as a result of altered coping mechanisms after cancer diagnosis. The development of CRCI is probably multifactorial and the exact mechanisms are currently not completely understood. Possible risk factors include administered treatment, genetic predisposition, age and psychological factors such as anxiety, depression or fatigue. Multiple mecha...