title: Catechol-O-methyltransferase genotype modulates cancer treatment-related cognitive deficits in breast cancer survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent attention has focused on the negative effects of chemotherapy on the cognitive performance of cancer survivors. The current study examined modification of this risk by catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genotype based on evidence in adult populations that the presence of a Val allele is associated with poorer cognitive performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Breast cancer survivors treated with radiotherapy (n = 58), and/or chemotherapy (n = 72), and 204 healthy controls (HCs) completed tests of cognitive performance and provided saliva for COMT genotyping. COMT genotype was divided into Val carriers (Val+; Val/Val, Val/Met) or COMT-Met homozygote carriers (Met; Met/Met).
  
  
  RESULTS
  COMT-Val+ carriers performed more poorly on tests of attention, verbal fluency, and motor speed relative to COMT-Met homozygotes. Moreover, COMT-Val+ carriers treated with chemotherapy performed more poorly on tests of attention relative to HC group members who were also Val+ carriers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that persons treated with chemotherapy for breast cancer who also possess the COMT-Val gene are susceptible to negative effects on their cognitive health. This research is important because it strives to understand the factors that predispose some cancer survivors to more negative quality-of-life outcomes.
authors.affiliation: School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33647, USA. bsmall@cas.usf.edu
authors.forename: Brent J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: Kerri Sharp
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Rawson
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Heather S L
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jim
authors.forename: Tiffany F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iser
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Andrykowski
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017741:Survivors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase