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Cancer Resources > Cancer News > 2007 > October
Cognitive function recovers after stem cell transplant
Last Updated: 2007-10-29 16:07:44 -0400 (Reuters Health)
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Cancer patients appear to show negative changes in cognitive functioning associated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), but values return to a normative level within a year.
Dr. Margaret Booth-Jones of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida, and colleagues note that there have been reports of cognitive deficits in patients undergoing HSCT.
To investigate, the researchers initially studied 286 patients who were randomized to be tested pre-transplant and 6 and 12 months, and another 124 were tested at 6 and 12 months. Eighty-three patients who were tested at 12 months only were not included in the analysis. The most frequent cancer diagnosis was multiple myeloma (in 63%).
With the exception of attention, there was a significant improvement in cognitive abilities at 1 year. Performance on a battery of neuropsychologic tests that provided a total neuropsychologic performance score was at least as good as population normative values.
The researchers point out that although the group improved as a whole, "some patients may suffer from deficits for a longer period of time." Further research, they add, should concentrate on identifying such at-risk individuals.
Cancer 2007;110:1560-1567.
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