Role of cytokines and other determinants in chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment.

<p>Multiple factors have been postulated as determinants of cognitive changes in cancer patients, including demographical, physiological, psychological, pathological and pharmacological determinants. Recent experimental studies have suggested that pro-inflammatory cytokines may be mediators of chemotherapy-associated cognitive changes.</p

Summary of potential research questions.

<p>Summary of potential research questions.</p

Summary of methods and results from selected studies (Studies are listed in alphabetical order).

<p>Legend and abbreviations: (listed according to alphabetical order within categories)</p>a<p>Additional data not shown; presented during oral presentation at the International Cognition and Cancer Task Force conference in 2012.</p>b<p>AC: doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide; CAF: cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and 5-fluorouracil; CMF: cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil; CHOP: cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone; MTX: methotrexate; 5-FU: 5- Fluorouracil.</p>c<p>CRP: C-reactive protein; ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; GM-CSF: granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor; IFN: Interferon; IL-: Interleukin-; IL-1RA: interleukin-1 receptor antagonist; MCP-1: monocyte chemotactic protein-1; sTNF-RII: soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-II; TNF: tumor necrosis factor.</p>d<p>CANTAB: Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery; Ctx: chemotherapy treatment; Endo-tx: endocrine treatment; EORTC: European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer; FACT-Cog: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Cognitive Function; M: month; NP: traditional neuropsychological batteries; PET: positron emission tomography.</p>e<p>“√” refers to the authors' observations that cytokine levels were elevated in chemotherapy-receiving study subjects, or the presence of a statistically significant correlation between chemotherapy and cognitive impairment; “X” refers to the authors' observations that cytokine levels were not elevated in chemotherapy-receiving study subjects, or the absence of a statistically significant correlation between chemotherapy and cognitive impairment.</p

Recommended methodological guidelines for future studies.

<p>Recommended methodological guidelines for future studies.</p

Results of Literature Search.

<p>Results of Literature Search.</p