title: A pilot study: application of hemoglobin and cortisol levels, and a memory test to evaluate the quality of life of breast cancer patients on chemotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Short-term memory (STM) decline in breast cancer patients resulting from chemotherapy was evaluated by means of blood biomarkers, a questionnaire, and a computerized STM test.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted from January 2013 to June 2013, recruiting 90 subjects: 30 breast cancer patients beginning the 3rd of 4th cycles of docetaxel and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy, 30 recovered patients (who completed 4 cycles of docetaxel for a minimum of 6 months), and 30 healthy subjects (disease-free females). The levels of hemoglobin, red and white blood cells, and cortisol in serum, and a computerized STM test were analyzed to estimate the effects of chemotherapy on STM. A questionnaire was given to all subjects to assess quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant differences were observed for the blood parameters (hemoglobin, red and white blood cells, and cortisol levels) between healthy and on-treatment subjects (respectively 13.47 ± 0.96 g/dL vs 5.37 ± 0.38 g/dL, 4.58 ± 0.41 10(12)/L vs 2.07 ± 0.13 10(12)/L, and 6.15 ± 1.03 10(9)/L vs 0.86 ± 0.41 10(9)/L). Scores of the STM test were significantly lower for patients compared to healthy subjects. As indicated by the results of the questionnaire, breast cancer patients had a higher tendency to forget than healthy controls (X(2)=3.15; p<0.0001) and recovered subjects (X(2)=3.15; p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found depleted levels of hemoglobin, red and white blood cells as a result of chemotherapy, and elevated levels of stress correlated with poor performances in the computerized STM test. A higher cortisol level might be an important precursor of STM deterioration. Monitoring cortisol would be beneficial for evaluating the quality of life of breast cancer patients on chemotherapy.
authors: 2 Department of Psychological Studies, The Hong Kong Institute of Education - Hong Kong.
authors: Wings T Y
authors: WT
authors: Loo
authors: Michael C W
authors: MC
authors: Yip
authors: Louis W C
authors: LW
authors: Chow
authors: Qing
authors: Q
authors: Liu
authors: Elizabeth L Y
authors: EL
authors: Ng
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Wang
authors: Jianping
authors: J
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006454:Hemoglobins; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D006854:Hydrocortisone