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Review
. 2016 Sep;174(6):835-46.
doi: 10.1111/bjh.14211. Epub 2016 Jul 8.

What is known and unknown about chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment in patients with haematological malignancies and areas of needed research

Annalynn M Williams  1 , Clive S Zent  2 , Michelle C Janelsins  2   3
Affiliations
Review

What is known and unknown about chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment in patients with haematological malignancies and areas of needed research

Annalynn M Williams et al. Br J Haematol. 2016 Sep.

Abstract

Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is an important clinical problem for cancer patients and survivors. In this review, we summarize studies investigating the occurrence of impaired cognition in patients with haematological malignancies. Most published studies focus on survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and primary central nervous system lymphoma. We also discuss studies conducted in acute myeloid leukaemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, chronic myeloid leukaemia, Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), non-HL and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Although research in this area is still emerging, it appears that a subset of chemotherapy-treated haematological malignancy survivors experience CRCI. Future research should focus on expanding the literature reviewed here with larger studies appropriately powered to assess cognition via objective and subjective measures in a longitudinal fashion to tease apart the impact of disease and the various forms of cancer treatment.

Keywords: cancer; chemotherapy; chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment; cognition; haematological malignancy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Factors Influencing Cancer Related Cognitive Impairment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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