In Adults with Breast Cancer, Inflammation Is Correlated with Perceived Cognitive Function Before and After Chemotherapy

Breast cancer patients had greater perceived cognitive impairment before and after chemotherapy compared with controls without cancer, according to a nationwide prospective study. To elucidate the potential impact of inflammation on cognitive function, Belcher and colleagues investigated the links between immune cell counts and lymphocyte/monocyte ratios with perceived cognitive impairment before and after chemotherapy treatment.

As part of a longitudinal cohort study conducted through the National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program network (NCT01382082), self-reported data from the perceived cognitive impairment subscale of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy: Cognitive Function were scored at pre-chemotherapy (0-7 days before first chemotherapy) and post-chemotherapy (0-30 days after last chemotherapy), with a possible score range of 0 to 72. At pre- and post-chemotherapy, immune cell counts were measured via complete blood count with differential and lymphocyte/monocyte ratio was determined. The association of immune cell counts and the lymphocyte/monocyte ratio with pre- and post-chemotherapy perceived cognitive impairment levels were evaluated.

The population comprised 544 patients with data for perceived cognitive impairment and immune cell at pre-chemotherapy and 532 patients with data at post-chemotherapy, with a mean age of 53.1 years. Notably, at pre-chemotherapy higher basophil counts and lymphocyte monocyte ratio scores were significantly associated with worse perceived cognitive impairment (P <.05; P <.05, respectively). Higher basophil count and lymphocyte monocyte ratio were significantly associated with worse perceived cognitive impairment at post-chemotherapy as well (P <.05; P <.05). The investigators concluded that in adults with breast cancer, inflammation is correlated with perceived cognitive function before and after chemotherapy. To reduce cancer-related cognitive impairment, there may be a benefit to targeting specific inflammatory processes.

Source:

Belcher E, Gilmore N, Kehoe L, et al. Immune cell counts and perceived cognitive impairment before and after chemotherapy among 544 women with breast cancer. Presented at: American Society of Clinical Oncology 2021 Annual Meeting, June 4-8. Abstract 12114.