Associations between inflammatory markers and cognitive function in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, 2017, Janelsins et al

Andy · Dec 14, 2017

Highlights

First study to examine association between inflammation and CRCI during chemotherapy treatment.

Assessed TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, sTNFR1, sTNFR2, and IL6R in relation to multiple cognitive domains.

Increasing sTNFRI concentrations are associated with worse short-term visual memory.

This association remained after adjustment for age, education, stage, & anthracycline exposure.

Abstract
Background
Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is often related to chemotherapy. Increased chronic inflammation is believed to play a key role in the development of CRCI related to chemotherapy but studies assessing this hypothesis specifically in patients receiving chemotherapy are rare.

Methods
We assessed several cognitive domains using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) in twenty-two breast cancer patients currently receiving chemotherapy. We also measured inflammatory cytokine and receptor (MCP-1, TNF-α, sTNFRI, sTNFRII) concentrations in patient sera using Luminex assays. These concentrations were log-transformed to obtain a normal distribution. Associations between log-transformed cytokines and cognition were evaluated using Pearson correlations and linear regression, taking into account relevant covariates.

Results
Increased concentrations of sTNFRI and sTNFRII were associated with poorer performance on the CANTAB Delayed Matching to Sample (DMS, tests visual memory). Increasing sTNFRI levels were negatively correlated with DMS percent correct (r = − 0.47, p = 0.029) and DMS percent correct after a 12 second (s) delay (r = − 0.65, p = 0.001). Increasing levels of sTNFRII negatively correlated with DMS percent correct after 12 s delay (r = − 0.57, p = 0.006). After controlling for relevant demographic (i.e. age, education) and clinical variables (i.e. disease stage, regimen type), we found that increased sTNFRI remained significantly related to decline on the DMS at the 12 s delay (p = 0.018).

Conclusion
This preliminary study shows a significant association between higher sTNFRI and lower scores on the short-term visual memory delayed match to sample test in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, supporting the hypothesis that sTNFRI is involved in CRCI.
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Paywalled at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165572817301984#!

Article based on paper

Summary: A new study reports inflammation in the blood may play a role in cognitive problems following chemotherapy. Researchers report identifying the inflammatory biomarkers and reducing inflammation may prevent some of the symptoms of chemo brain.

Source: University of Rochester.

Inflammation in the blood plays a key role in “chemo-brain,” according to a published pilot study that provides evidence for what scientists have long believed.

The research is important because it could lead to a new practice of identifying inflammatory biomarkers in cancer patients and then treating the inflammation with medications or exercise to improve cognition and other symptoms, said senior author Michelle C. Janelsins, Ph.D., associate professor of Surgery in the Cancer Control and Survivorship program at the Wilmot Cancer Institute.

Published in the Journal of Neuroimmunology, the preliminary research is believed to be among the first studies to look at cancer patients in active treatment and whether inflammation is involved in their chemo-brain symptoms.
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http://neurosciencenews.com/chemo-brain-inflammation-8188/

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Associations between inflammatory markers and cognitive function in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, 2017, Janelsins et al

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Associations between inflammatory markers and cognitive function in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, 2017, Janelsins et al

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