Journal article
Frontal hypometabolism in elderly breast cancer survivors determined by [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET): a pilot study
International journal of geriatric psychiatry, Vol.30(6), pp.587-594
06/2015
DOI: 10.1002/gps.4189
PMCID: PMC4345151
PMID: 25176562
Abstract
Purpose
The term “chemobrain” is sometimes used to denote deficits in neuropsychological functioning that may occur as a result of cancer treatment. As breast cancer survivors now commonly reach late life, it is not known whether previous exposure to chemotherapy may affect long‐term risk for cognitive impairment. To help address this concern, this study tested whether successfully surviving chemotherapy earlier in life was associated with later differences in brain metabolic function as an older adult compared to controls. This question was examined using positron emission tomography measures of brain glucose metabolism in elderly women cancer survivors.
Methods
Breast cancer survivors (N = 10), currently free of recurrent cancer and without a diagnosis of a cognitive disorder, were compared to matched healthy controls (N = 10). All subjects were imaged at rest with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose. Images were analyzed semi‐quantitatively using the Alzheimer's Discrimination Tool and a volume of interest‐based approach derived from co‐registered magnetic resonance imaging.
Results
Relative [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose uptake (normalized to global) was significantly lower in the survivors compared with control subjects in bilateral orbital frontal regions, consistent with differences between the groups in cognition and executive function (i.e., Trail Making Test, Part B and mini‐mental state examination) and despite no significant differences with respect to age, education, intelligence, or working memory. None of the survivors and only one control manifested a global positron emission tomography score consistent with an Alzheimer's disease metabolic pattern.
Conclusion
Breast cancer survivors treated with chemotherapy may manifest long‐term changes in brain glucose metabolism indicative of subtle frontal hypometabolism, a finding consistent with results from neuropsychological testing and other imaging modalities. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Frontal hypometabolism in elderly breast cancer survivors determined by [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET): a pilot study
- Creators
- Laura L. Boles Ponto - University of Iowa Carver College of MedicineYusuf Menda - University of Iowa Carver College of MedicineVincent A Magnotta - University of Iowa Carver College of MedicineTorricia H Yamada - Veterans Administration Health Care SystemNatalie L Denburg - University of Iowa Carver College of MedicineSusan K Schultz - University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- International journal of geriatric psychiatry, Vol.30(6), pp.587-594
- DOI
- 10.1002/gps.4189
- PMID
- 25176562
- PMCID
- PMC4345151
- NLM abbreviation
- Int J Geriatr Psychiatry
- ISSN
- 0885-6230
- eISSN
- 1099-1166
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 8
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000002, name: National Institutes of Health, award: 5P30CA086862-09; DOI: 10.13039/100000002, name: National Institutes of Health, award: R01CA122934; DOI: 10.13039/100001068, name: Dana Foundation
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/2015
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Neurology; Radiology; Psychiatry; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics; Radiation Oncology; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984017666302771
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