Characterizing cancer-related cognitive impairments and impact on quality of life in women with metastatic breast cancer

Ashley M Henneghan; Kathleen M Van Dyk; Darren Haywood; Mansi Patel; Oscar Y Franco-Rocha; Soyeong Bang; Tamsin Longley; Rebecca Tasker; Tara Kaufmann; Emily W Paolillo; Raeanne C Moore; Nicolas H Hart

doi:10.1007/s10549-024-07479-4

Characterizing cancer-related cognitive impairments and impact on quality of life in women with metastatic breast cancer

Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2024 Sep 13. doi: 10.1007/s10549-024-07479-4. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Ashley M Henneghan^{1

2}, Kathleen M Van Dyk^{3

4}, Darren Haywood^{5

6

7

8}, Mansi Patel⁹, Oscar Y Franco-Rocha¹⁰, Soyeong Bang¹¹, Tamsin Longley¹², Rebecca Tasker¹⁰, Tara Kaufmann¹³, Emily W Paolillo¹⁴, Raeanne C Moore¹⁵, Nicolas H Hart^{5

16

17

18

19}

Affiliations

¹ School of Nursing, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA. [email protected].
² Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA. [email protected].
³ Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁴ Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁵ Faculty of Health, Human Performance Research Centre, INSIGHT Research Institute, , University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁶ Department of Mental Health, St. Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia.
⁷ Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
⁸ Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia.
⁹ Department of Neuroscience, College of Natural Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
¹⁰ School of Nursing, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
¹¹ School of Nursing, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
¹² The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK.
¹³ Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
¹⁴ Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
¹⁵ UC San Diego Health Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
¹⁶ School of Medical and Health Sciences, Exercise Medicine Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia.
¹⁷ Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
¹⁸ Faculty of Health, Cancer and Palliative Care Outcomes Centre, School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
¹⁹ Institute for Health Research, University of Notre Dame Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.

PMID: 39269553
DOI: 10.1007/s10549-024-07479-4

Abstract

Purpose: Little is known about cancer-related cognitive impairments (CRCI) in women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). The purpose of this study is to (1) comprehensively describe CRCI and any associated psychosocial and behavioral symptoms, (2) determine observable sociodemographic and clinical risk factors for CRCI, and (3) explore cognitive and psychosocial predictors of quality of life and social functioning in women living with MBC.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, women with MBC completed assessments (objective and subjective measures of CRCI including 3 open-ended questions, measures of psychosocial and behavioral factors, and assessments of quality of life and social function), and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, qualitative content analysis, correlation analyses, t tests, analysis of variance, and linear regression models.

Results: Data from 52 women were analyzed. 69.2% of the sample reported clinically significant CRCI and 46% of the sample scored < 1 standard deviation below the standardized mean on one or more cognitive tests. Those with triple-negative MBC (compared to HER2+), recurrent MBC (compared to de novo), and no history of chemotherapy had worse subjective CRCI, and those without history of surgery and older age had worse objective CRCI. Subjective CRCI, but not objective CRCI, was significantly associated with quality of life and social functioning.

Conclusion: Subjective and objective CRCI are likely a common problem for those with MBC. Subjective CRCI is associated with poorer quality of life and lower social functioning. Healthcare providers should acknowledge cognitive symptoms, continually assess cognitive function, and address associated unmet needs across the MBC trajectory.

Keywords: Cancer-related cognitive impairments; Clinically meaningful thresholds; Metastatic breast cancer; Quality of life; Social function.

Abstract

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