title: Long-term trajectories of self-reported cognitive function in a cohort of older survivors of breast cancer: CALGB 369901 (Alliance).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of survivors of breast cancer aged ≥65 years ("older") is growing, but to the authors' knowledge, little is known regarding the cognitive outcomes of these individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of cognitively intact older survivors with nonmetastatic, invasive breast cancer was recruited from 78 sites from 2004 through 2011; approximately 83.7% of the survivors (1280 survivors) completed baseline assessments. Follow-up data were collected at 6 months and annually for up to 7 years (median, 4.1 years). Cognitive function was self-reported using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30); scores ranged from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating better function. Group-based trajectory modeling determined trajectories; women were assigned to a trajectory group based on the highest predicted probability of membership. Multinomial logistic regression evaluated the association between receipt of chemotherapy (with or without hormonal treatment) and trajectory group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Survivors were aged 65 to 91 years; approximately 41% received chemotherapy. There were 3 cognitive trajectories: "maintained high" (42.3% of survivors); "phase shift" (50.1% of survivors), with scores slightly below but parallel to maintained high; and "accelerated decline" (7.6% of survivors), with the lowest baseline scores and greatest decline (from 71.7 [standard deviation, 19.8] to 58.3 [standard deviation, 21.9]). The adjusted odds of being in the accelerated decline group (vs the maintained high group) were 2.1 times higher (95% confidence interval, 1.3-3.5) for survivors who received chemotherapy (with or without hormonal therapy) versus those treated with hormonal therapy alone. Greater comorbidity and frailty also were found to be associated with accelerated decline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Trajectory group analysis demonstrated that the majority of older survivors maintained good long-term self-reported cognitive function, and that only a small subset who were exposed to chemotherapy manifested accelerated cognitive decline. Future research is needed to determine factors that place some older survivors at risk of experiencing cognitive decline. Cancer 2016;122:3555-3563. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC.|Cancer Control Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Jeanne S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Mandelblatt
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC.|Cancer Control Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8058-5808
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Clapp
authors.affiliation: Cancer Control Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, DC.|Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Biomathematics, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Gheorghe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luta
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC.|Cancer Control Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Leigh Anne
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Faul
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC.|Cancer Control Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Michelle D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Tallarico
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC.|Cancer Control Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Trina D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: McClendon
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC.|Cancer Control Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Jessica A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Whitley
authors.affiliation: Cancer Control Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, DC.|Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Biomathematics, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Tim A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Ahles
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida.
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.affiliation: School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida.
authors.forename: Brent J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Small
authors.affiliation: Alliance Statistics and Data Center, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Brandelyn N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Pitcher
authors.affiliation: Polibienestar Research Institute, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.|Visiting Researcher, Georgetown University, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Estrella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dura-Fernandis
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Hyman B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Muss
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California.
authors.forename: Arti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hurria
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Harvey J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC.|Breast Cancer Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Claudine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Isaacs
keywords: breast cancer; chemotherapy; cognition; older; survival; trajectory