title: Neurocognitive effects of chemotherapy and endocrine therapies in the treatment of breast cancer: recent perspectives.
abstract: With an estimated 207,090 patients diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, the role of chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment is of growing importance. Studies to determine the impact of chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment have been hindered by difficulties in study-design, in particular, study methodology. Here, we present a review of existing studies and discuss several mechanisms for chemotherapy-induced neurocognitive impairment in breast cancer patients, such as direct neurotoxic injury, telomere shortening, oxidative stress, cytokine dysregulation, estrogen-mediated effects, and the role of certain genetic polymorphisms. Decreased estrogen levels may serve as a link between multiple mechanisms potentiating the effects of the chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: Caroline H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Drew
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Antoon
authors.forename: Alan V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Kalueff
authors.forename: Barbara S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Beckman
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents