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International Journal of Clinical Oncology

Published in:

01-01-2019 | Original Article

Long-term influence of adjuvant breast radiotherapy on cognitive function in breast cancer patients treated with conservation therapy

Authors: Osamu Shibayama, Kazuhiro Yoshiuchi, Masatoshi Inagaki, Yutaka Matsuoka, Eisho Yoshikawa, Yuriko Sugawara, Tatsuo Akechi, Noriaki Wada, Shigeru Imoto, Koji Murakami, Asao Ogawa, Yosuke Uchitomi

Published in: International Journal of Clinical Oncology | Issue 1/2019

Abstract

Background

The mechanisms underlying cognitive decline after radiotherapy not directed at brain areas remains unclear. We previously suggested that adjuvant breast radiotherapy in breast conservation therapy could lower memory function soon after therapy, and that the process might be partially mediated by plasma interleukin (IL)-6 levels. The present study investigated how that relationship changes longitudinally.

Methods

We performed the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R) test and measured plasma IL-6 levels for 47 breast cancer surgical patients within 1 year after the initial therapy (study 1) and more than 2 years after study 1 (study 2). We also performed 2 × 2 mixed [the radiotherapy group (n = 25) or the no-radiotherapy group (n = 22) × study 1 or study 2] analysis of covariance on the WMS-R indices and plasma IL-6 levels. The association between changes in plasma IL-6 levels and changes in the WMS-R indices between the two studies was evaluated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient.

Results

The Immediate Verbal Memory Index was significantly higher in study 2. The Delayed Recall Index was significantly higher in study 2 and significantly lower in the radiotherapy group only in study 1. There was a significant correlation between changes in plasma IL-6 levels and changes only in the Delayed Recall Index of the WMS-R.

Conclusions

Memory decline in breast cancer patients soon after adjuvant breast radiotherapy was restored approximately 3 years after treatment, and decreased plasma IL-6 levels might be involved in the recovery process.

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Title: Long-term influence of adjuvant breast radiotherapy on cognitive function in breast cancer patients treated with conservation therapy
Authors: Osamu Shibayama
Kazuhiro Yoshiuchi
Masatoshi Inagaki
Yutaka Matsuoka
Eisho Yoshikawa
Yuriko Sugawara
Tatsuo Akechi
Noriaki Wada
Shigeru Imoto
Koji Murakami
Asao Ogawa
Yosuke Uchitomi
Publication date: 01-01-2019
Publisher: Springer Japan
Published in: International Journal of Clinical Oncology / Issue 1/2019
Print ISSN: 1341-9625
Electronic ISSN: 1437-7772
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-018-1330-3

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Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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