Researchers Link Chemo Brain to Lymphoma

For the first time, data establishes that chemo brain is a major problem for lymphoma survivors. In addition, new research shows that routine exercise prior to chemotherapy might prevent chemo brain among women with breast cancer. These findings come from two recently published studies by the Wilmot Cancer Institute at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

“During my career, I’ve seen survival rates for some of the most common types of lymphoma grow from a median of six years to more than 20 years,” said Jonathan Friedberg, M.D., M.M.Sc., Wilmot’s director and an international lymphoma expert. “While this is great news, patients who have overcome cancer should not live with cognitive deficits. This research has provided valuable insight into the problem and of the importance of further studies in this area.”

Chemo brain is a common side effect of cancer and/or treatment, often described as a lack of sharpness, an inability to concentrate, to remember things, multitask, or learn new skills. It impacts an individual’s return to daily routines that require cognitive skills at work, socially, and at home with activities such as raising children and grandchildren, running a household, or planning finances.

Michelle Janelsins, Ph.D., M.P.H., associate professor of Surgery and part of Wilmot’s Cancer Prevention and Control research program, led both studies. She is among the top investigators in the US to link cognitive impairment to chemotherapy. In 2016, she published the largest study to date showing that cognitive impairment is a significant and widespread problem for women with breast cancer.

The recent investigations show:

• Individuals who exercised moderately or vigorously (getting the recommended 150 minutes per week) before chemotherapy were less likely to suffer from chemo brain during and after treatment. The study involved 580 breast cancer patients and 363 healthy people in a control group. Cognition was measured with objective tests and patient-reported data. It was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. While clinicians and scientists believe that appropriate exercise has many benefits for cancer patients, Janelsins emphasized that the latest study shows it can also be a powerful prevention tool — as patients in the best shape prior to cancer treatment were protected against memory problems and attention deficits.
• Until now, most chemo brain research was focused on solid tumors, such as breast and prostate cancer. In the recent Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI), study, Janelsins and Wilmot collaborators demonstrated that lymphoma survivors also experience worse cognitive functioning for up to six months following chemotherapy compared to individuals without cancer who served in a control group and were assessed at the same time intervals. Researchers measured memory, attention and executive functioning in 248 patients and 212 healthy controls, and also asked the study participants about their perceived brain fog. Of note, women reported more declines than men. The study is believed to be the first comprehensive longitudinal study assessing the impact of chemotherapy on cognitive function in patients with lymphoma. The impact of disease versus treatment and its effect on the brain is still unclear, however, and requires further study.

Additional work by Janelsins and Wilmot colleagues is focused on solutions — including personalized exercise regimens, anti-inflammatory medications, supplements, and other lifestyle modifications.

A primary goal is to find ways to help older adults, who in general have the highest risk for cancer. Janelsins is part of a trio of Wilmot scientists that recently received a $3.85 million NCI multi-investigator award to study innovative ways to transition older adults from chemotherapy to survivorship.