Open AccessChemotherapy‐induced structural changes in cerebral white matter and its correlation with impaired cognitive functioning in breast cancer patients
Author(s) -
Deprez Sabine,
Amant Frederic,
Yigit Refika,
Porke Kathleen,
Verhoeven Judith,
Stock Jan Van den,
Smeets Ann,
Christiaens MarieRose,
Leemans Alexander,
Hecke Wim Van,
Vandenberghe Joris,
Vandenbulcke Mathieu,
Sunaert Stefan
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.21033
Subject(s) - fractional anisotropy , neuropsychology , diffusion mri , white matter , breast cancer , corpus callosum , psychology , medicine , cognition , magnetic resonance imaging , oncology , audiology , neuroscience , radiology , cancer
A subgroup of patients with breast cancer suffers from mild cognitive impairment after chemotherapy. To uncover the neural substrate of these mental complaints, we examined cerebral white matter (WM) integrity after chemotherapy using magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in combination with detailed cognitive assessment. Postchemotherapy breast cancer patients ( n = 17) and matched healthy controls ( n = 18) were recruited for DTI and neuropsychological testing, including the self‐report cognitive failure questionnaire (CFQ). Differences in DTI WM integrity parameters [fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD)] between patients and healthy controls were assessed using a voxel‐based two‐sample‐ t ‐test. In comparison with healthy controls, the patient group demonstrated decreased FA in frontal and temporal WM tracts and increased MD in frontal WM. These differences were also confirmed when comparing this patient group with an additional control group of nonchemotherapy‐treated breast cancer patients ( n = 10). To address the heterogeneity observed in cognitive function after chemotherapy, we performed a voxel‐based correlation analysis between FA values and individual neuropsychological test scores. Significant correlations of FA with neuropsychological tests covering the domain of attention and processing/psychomotor speed were found in temporal and parietal WM tracts. Furthermore, CFQ scores correlated negatively in frontal and parietal WM. These studies show that chemotherapy seems to affect WM integrity and that parameters derived from DTI have the required sensitivity to quantify neural changes related to chemotherapy‐induced mild cognitive impairment. Hum Brain Mapp 32:480–493, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.