Cognitive Changes Associated With Breast Cancer Treatment

Cognitive Changes Associated With Breast Cancer Treatment

Patients with cancer often complain that their "mind does not seem to be clear." This can be due to stress, depression, anxiety, or physical problems caused by cancer or the treatments used to control symptoms. There are many purposes for this study; one of them is to learn about the effects of cancer treatments on the brain, and another is to identify useful tools to detect these effects. The results of this study may stimulate new research comparing different treatments to the current treatment so the researchers may learn how to treat symptoms more effectively and improve patient quality of life. We would also like to learn more about the effects chemotherapy may have on DNA.

This is a prospective, longitudinal study to examine time-dependent neurocognitive changes in patients with breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. This study will assess chemotherapy-induced cognitive dysfunction. The researchers will recruit patients with localized breast cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy for the first time and will test the effects of chemotherapy on patients' cognitive function utilizing a standardized neuropsychological battery. Patients scheduled for chemotherapy will be given a battery of neuropsychological undergo MRI evaluation prior to beginning chemotherapy and one month following completion of treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient is 18 years of age but not older than 70years of age
• Patient is female
• Patient is able to understand English, through verbal and written communication
• In the judgment of the investigator and/or the consenting professional patient is able to provide informed consent
• Patient has a diagnosis of breast cancer (stage 0, I, II or IIIA-C), limited to localized disease,
• Patient is chemotherapy naïve and is receiving chemotherapy or is scheduled to receive no chemotherapy as part of adjuvant treatment
• Patient does not report history of prior breast or other cancer with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancer and/or participants who completed treatment for a previous cancer at least 5 years ago and have not undergone any chemotherapy.
• Patient is able to undergo MRI scanning (verified with pre MRI Safety Screening form),
• Patient can comfortably fit inside the MRI machine, verified by back to chest measurement no more than 10 inches or bust circumference of no more than 48 inches.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient has documented evidence of cognitive compromise (Blessed- Orientation Memory Cognition Test score > 11
• Patient has a history of neurological disorder with cognitive symptoms (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis)
• Patient is Pregnant as confirmed by urine pregnancy test. Participants who are post menopausal or have had a hysterectomy do not need a pregnancy test
• Patient is currently on daily medication for migraine or, insulin-dependent diabetes requiring administration by injection,
• Patient has uncontrollable hypertension as per self report or as documented in the medical record
• Patient has a reported fear of enclosed spaces (Claustrophobia)
• Patient has any of the following items that preclude fMRI evaluation
• Cardiac pacemaker, Joint replacements, Aneurysm clips, Transdermal patched, Aortic clips, Prosthesis, Intracranial bypass clips, Harrington rod , Coronary Artery bypass clips, Biostimulator, Renal Transplant Clips, Bone or joint pins, Other vascular clips or filters, Tissue expander ,Implanted neurostimulators, Metal mesh, Artificial heart valve, Stents, Insulin pump, Wire structures, Electrodes, Shrapnel/bullets, Hearing Aids implant, Implanted electrical devices, IUD, Metal in eyes, Shunts, Ocular Implants, Hair extensions, Hair implants, Tattoos above the waist, Any possible metal in body
• Patient has dentures, body jewelry or wig that they are unable to remove
• History of head injury with evidence of brain injury or loss of consciousness for > 60 minutes or cognitive sequelae
• Untreated or current episode of depression (answering positively to either of the two screening questions from the PHQ-9 (Kroenke, et al., 2001)
• Self-reported sleep disorders that could influence cognitive functioning including sleep apnea and and narcolepsy
• History of Axis I psychiatric disorder (DSM-IV), major affective disorder (untreated), bipolar disorder, schizophrenia disorder (DSM-IV) or substance use disorders (self reported and/or stated in medical record)
• History of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or substance use disorders
• Patient is unwilling to undergo fMRI component if selected
• Patient has undergone previous chemotherapy treatment

Healthy Control Inclusion Criteria:

• Participant is 18 years of age but not older than 70 years of age,
• Participant is female
• Participant is able to understand English, through verbal and written communication
• In the judgment of the investigator and/or the consenting professional participant is able to provide informed consent
• Patient is able to undergo MRI scanning (verified with pre MRI Safety Screening form)
• Patient can comfortably fit inside the MRI machine, verified by back to chest measurement no more than 10 inches or bust circumference of no more than 48 inches.

Healthy Control Exclusion Criteria:

-Participant has Documented evidence of severe cognitive compromise (Blessed- Orientation Memory Cognition Test score > 11

• Participant has a history of neurological disorder with cognitive symptoms (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis).
• Participant is pregnant as indicated by urine pregnancy test,
• As per self report participant is currently on daily medication for migraine, or , insulin dependent diabetes requiring administration by injection,
• As per self report participant has uncontrollable hypertension,
• As per self report, participant has a reported fear of enclosed spaces (Claustrophobia)
• As per self report, participant has any of the following items that preclude fMRI evaluation Cardiac pacemaker, Joint replacements, Aneurysm clips, Transdermal patched, Aortic clips Prosthesis, Intracranial bypass clips, Harrington rod , Coronary Artery bypass clips, Biostimulator, Renal Transplant Clips, Bone or joint pins, Other vascular clips or filters, Tissue expander ,Implanted neurostimulators, Metal mesh, Artificial heart valve, Stents, Insulin pump, Wire structures, Electrodes, Shrapnel/bullets, Hearing Aids implant, Implanted electrical devices, IUD, Metal in eyes, Shunts, Ocular Implants, Hair extensions, Hair implants, Tattoos above the waist, Any possible metal in body
• As per self report, participant has dentures, body jewelry or wig that they are unable to remove
• As per self report, participant has a history of head injury with evidence of brain injury or loss of consciousness for > 60 minutes or cognitive sequelae
• As per self report, participant has untreated or current episode of depression (answering positively to either of the two screening questions from the PHQ-9 (Kroenke, et al., 2001)
• As per self report, participant has sleep disorders that could influence cognitive functioning including sleep apnea and narcolepsy,
• As per self report, participant has history of Axis I psychiatric disorder (DSM-IV), major affective disorder (untreated), bipolar disorder, schizophrenia disorder (DSM-IV) or substance use disorders
• As per self report, participant has undergone previous chemotherapy treatment.