J Pain Symptom Manage. 2011 Jan 1;41(1):126-139, AA Argyriou, K

Assimakopoulos, G Iconomou, F Giannakopoulou, HP Kalofonos

Abstract

Context: In recent years, there is growing evidence in the medical

literature to support an association between administration of commonly used

chemotherapeutic agents and an increased risk for cognitive impairment.

Objectives: We herein critically summarize data relating to the

pathophysiological mechanisms by which chemotherapy may induce cognitive

impairment in patients surviving from solid tumors. The clinical and

epidemiological characteristics and the proposed management strategies to

counter chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI) also are presented.

Methods: References for this review were identified by searches of PubMed

from 1995 until December 2009 with related terms.

Results: Both the pathogenetic mechanisms and the overall clinical nature of

CICI remain vaguely defined. OCF Findings indicate that CICI is a relatively

common event that, in most of the cases, remains under diagnosed, thereby

adversely affecting the quality of life of patients with cancer. Effective

pharmacological interventions toward the symptomatic or prophylactic

management of CICI also are lacking.

Conclusion: Either called “chemobrain” or “chemofog,” the long-term CICI in

cancer survivors is real. The need for multidisciplinary care interventions

toward a timely diagnosis and management of CICI is clearly warranted.