Background:

Our study aims to evaluate the impact of different factors on cancer-related cognitive impairment in patients who undergo chemotherapy.

Methodology:

Prospective longitudinal single-centre study that included patients with breast and colon carcinoma who underwent chemotherapy as part of their treatment. Clinical and genetic characteristics of the patients (single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs) were collected. Patients’ neurocognitive status was assessed using eleven validated tests at three time points: before chemotherapy (M0 - baseline), between one and four weeks after completing chemotherapy (M1), and between 24-30 weeks after completing chemotherapy (M2).

Results:

Sixty-two patients were included in this study; 82% were female, median age was 56 years (range 30-74), and 64.5% had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Overall, better cognitive results at M0 were associated with age < 55 years, higher educational level, absence of comorbidities, and the CC variant rs471692 (TOP2A). Significant decline was found between M0 to M1 in the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test and the Letter and Number test, with evidence of recovery in M2 compared to M0 regarding the following test: Visual Memory, Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST), Digit Symbol Substitution and Cube. In the multivariate analysis, being ≥55 years of age, adjuvant chemotherapy, presence of comorbidities, tobacco and alcohol use, and GT variant rs1800795 were associated with cognitive decline between M0 and M1.

Conclusion:

Being ≥55 years of age, female, presence of comorbidities and basic education level are related to a higher risk of cognitive impairment after chemotherapy.