Biomedical subjects

Anne E Kayl

Publications and source records attributed to Anne E Kayl.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Side-effects of chemotherapy and quality of life in ovarian and breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Women diagnosed with ovarian cancer or breast cancer often face aggressive chemotherapy involving multiple treatment regimens. These treatments may be associated with significant side-effects that adversely impact patient quality of life. In this review, we will highlight recent research on side-effects of chemotherapy and the quality-of-life concerns of women with ovarian and breast cancer. RECENT FINDINGS: Adjuvant chemotherapy has demonstrated efficacy in the management of ovarian and breast cancers. In addition to physical side-effects, a subset of women receiving chemotherapy will experience significant cognitive dysfunction that adversely affects their perceived quality of life. Variables including disease response, treatment indication and extent of the patient's social support also influence quality-of-life ratings. SUMMARY: Although prolongation of survival remains the primary goal of chemotherapy, the palliation of symptoms and preservation of quality of life are also important treatment considerations. Chemotherapy may be associated with nausea, vomiting, hair loss, cognitive dysfunction, fatigue, changes in sexual functioning and reductions in quality-of-life ratings. Although rare to date, prospective, randomized, longitudinal studies that incorporate a pre-treatment assessment of symptom burden and perceived quality of life are necessary to define the severity and pattern of treatment-related change and subsequently guide intervention strategies. In some cases, quality-of-life issues may help to guide patient-care decisions.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed2003

Does brain tumor histology influence cognitive function?

This retrospective study investigated the relationship between tumor histology and postsurgical cognitive function in patients diagnosed with malignant brain tumors. The neuropsychological functioning of 24 adult patients diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) was compared with the neuropsychological functioning of 24 adult patients diagnosed with anaplastic astrocytoma (AA). The groups were matched with respect to patient age, gender, and education, as well as tumor location and tumor volume. The mean raw test scores of the AA patient group were superior to the mean scores of the GBM patient group on nearly all measures administered. However, significant performance differences were not detected for any of 5 neuropsychological domain scores (Intellectual, Language, Memory, Executive, and Motor Function). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed that tumor histology was not a significant predictor of domain score after controlling for tumor volume. Multiple regression and correlation analyses supported the results of the ANCOVA by offering further evidence of weak relationships between tumor type, tumor volume, and neuropsychological test scores. We conclude that tumor histology is not clearly predictive of cognitive performance in adults with AA and GBM.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Chemotherapy and cognition: effects, potential mechanisms, and management.

The development of novel chemotherapeutic agents and advances in treatment technique have improved survival for patients diagnosed with some forms of cancer, but treatments are not always site specific and may place normal tissues at risk. The central nervous system (CNS) is susceptible to treatment effects and complaints of memory loss and generalized cognitive decline are common among cancer patients. Despite the frequency of subjective patient complaints, studies evaluating the cognitive abilities of patients have inconsistently reported chemotherapy-related declines. On careful review of the literature, discrepant findings across studies (some documenting chemotherapy-related cognitive declines and others failing to detect such changes) may be attributed to differences in methodology. Most studies have been retrospective in design, omit pretreatment assessment of function, use small or heterogeneous samples, use inappropriate measures to assess cognition, and fail to incorporate control subjects. Though rare to date, prospective, randomized, longitudinal studies that incorporate pretreatment comprehensive neuropsychological assessment are necessary to define the severity and pattern of treatment-related change. Building on a foundation of solid science, future studies may identify subgroups of patients susceptible to significant chemotherapy-related cognitive decline. Once these groups are identified and the mechanisms underlying the decline are elucidated, attention may be turned to the development of treatments that may optimize cognitive function and improve patient quality of life.

Antineoplastic Agents↗