Patterns of change in cognitive function with anastrozole therapy. Issue 15 (23rd April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bender, Catherine M.; Merriman, John D.; Gentry, Amanda L.; Ahrendt, Gretchen M.; Berga, Sarah L.; Brufsky, Adam M.; Casillo, Frances E.; Dailey, Meredith M.; Erickson, Kirk I.; Kratofil, Frances M.; McAuliffe, Priscilla F.; Rosenzweig, Margaret Q.; Ryan, Christopher M.; Sereika, Susan M.
• Is Part Of: Cancer. Volume 121:Issue 15(2015)
• Page Start: 2627
• Page End: 2636
• Publication Date: 2015-04-23
• Subjects: Cancer -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Cytopathology -- Periodicals; 616.99405
• DOI: 10.1002/cncr.29393
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-543X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="cncr29393-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>BACKGROUND</title> <p>The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the effects of the first 18 months of anastrozole therapy on cognitive function in women with breast cancer.</p> </sec> <sec id="cncr29393-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>METHODS</title> <p>This large, longitudinal cohort study was composed of postmenopausal women with early‐stage breast cancer who received chemotherapy plus anastrozole (n = 114) or anastrozole alone (n = 173) and a control group (n = 110). Cognitive function was assessed before systemic therapy and 6, 12, and 18 months after therapy initiation and at comparable time points in controls.</p> </sec> <sec id="cncr29393-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>RESULTS</title> <p>The chemotherapy‐anastrozole and anastrozole‐alone groups had poorer executive function than the controls at nearly all time points (<italic>P</italic> < .0001 to <italic>P</italic> = .09). A pattern of deterioration in working memory and concentration was observed during the first 6 months of anastrozole therapy for the chemotherapy‐anastrozole group (<italic>P</italic> < .0001 and <italic>P</italic> < .0009, respectively) and the anastrozole‐alone group (<italic>P</italic> = .0008 and <italic>P</italic> = .0002, respectively). This was followed by improved working memory and concentration from 6 to 12 months in both groups. The anastrozole‐alone group had a second decline in working memory and concentration from 12 to 18 months after the initiation of therapy (<italic>P</italic> < .0001 and <italic>P</italic> = .02, respectively).</p> </sec> <sec id="cncr29393-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> <p>Women with breast cancer had poorer executive functioning from the period before therapy through the entire first 18 months of therapy. A pattern of decline in working memory and concentration with initial exposure to anastrozole was observed. Women receiving anastrozole alone had a second deterioration in working memory and concentration from 12 to 18 months after therapy initiation. The longer term effects (>18 months) of anastrozole on cognitive function remain to be determined. <bold><italic>Cancer</italic> 2015;121:2627–2636</bold>. © <italic>2015 American Cancer Society</italic>.</p> </sec> </abstract>