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Cancers
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Novel Insights into Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment
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Novel Insights into Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Survivorship and Quality of Life".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 3135

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Danielle Tometich

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
Interests: cancer-related cognitive impairment; health behavior change for symptom management; patient-reported outcomes of novel cancer treatments

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Advances in cancer treatments have vastly improved survivorship; yet, cancer survivors are living long-term with treatment sequelae that can drastically affect their quality of life. Cancer-related cognitive impairment is a common and distressing symptom for cancer survivors; however, there are still several unanswered questions regarding the prevalence, etiology, course, and appropriate interventions to address this symptom and improve quality of life. Further work is also needed that focuses on the dissemination of current knowledge and the implementation of assessments and referrals for intervention in the clinical setting.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to highlight efforts to examine cancer-related cognitive impairment, develop effective interventions, and implement appropriate screening and referrals in clinical settings. Priority research areas include the following: novel cognitive and neuropsychological assessment strategies; consideration of aging and differences in the presentation and course of cancer-related cognitive impairment across the lifespan; risk and protective factors; medical and behavioral interventions to improve cognitive function and quality of life; and implementation science to address gaps in screening and referrals for cancer-related cognitive impairment in clinical settings. A broad scope of methodologies may be appropriate for examining these topics, and study designs may include observational, clinical trials, systematic reviews, qualitative interviews, mixed-methods, and implementation science. We would also be interested in including preclinical findings that contribute to the knowledge base regarding the etiology, risk factors, and course for cancer-related cognitive impairment.

Dr. Danielle Tometich
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cognitive impairment
  • cognitive dysfunction
  • cancer survivorship
  • quality of life
  • neuropsychological assessment
  • cognitive rehabilitation

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 351 KiB  
Article
Effect of Intolerance of Uncertainty on Perceived Cognitive Function Among Breast Cancer Patients Before Chemotherapy
by Yesol Yang, Alai Tan, Sagar D. Sardesai, Nicole O. Williams, Margaret Gatti-Mays, Daniel G. Stover, Preeti K. Sudheendra, Robert Wesolowski, Stephanie M. Gorka and Leah M. Pyter
Cancers 2025, 17(11), 1884; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17111884 - 4 Jun 2025
Viewed by 582
Abstract
Background: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is one of the most frequently reported symptoms by breast cancer patients. However, it remains unclear precisely what contributing factors are present among chemotherapy-naïve breast cancer patients that contribute to CRCI. Thus, it is essential to identify [...] Read more.
Background: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is one of the most frequently reported symptoms by breast cancer patients. However, it remains unclear precisely what contributing factors are present among chemotherapy-naïve breast cancer patients that contribute to CRCI. Thus, it is essential to identify potential factors related to CRCI that may occur before chemotherapy so that interventions can be employed to help prevent the worsening of CRCI. Objective: This study examined the association between intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and cognitive function among breast cancer patients before chemotherapy and explored whether anxiety mediates this association. Methods: A total of 58 females diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer and scheduled for chemotherapy were included in this study. Data on cognitive function, IU, anxiety, and other relevant information were analyzed. Results: We found that higher IU was associated with higher anxiety and such higher anxiety was subsequently associated with lower cognitive function being reported by breast cancer patients who were scheduled for chemotherapy. The association between IU and cognitive function was largely mediated through anxiety with standardized β = −0.19 (SE = 0.07) for the indirect association via anxiety and β = −0.2 (SE = 0.12) for the total association. Conclusions: IU shows an impact on cognitive function. Therefore, it is necessary to assess IU before chemotherapy, which may help detect patient risk for cognitive impairment early. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Insights into Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment)
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13 pages, 259 KiB  
Article
“It Was a Downward Spiral”: A Qualitative Study of Young Adult Cancer Survivors’ Experiences with Cognitive and Mental Health
by Danielle B. Tometich, Christina Hersh, Melinda L. Maconi, Hayden J. Fulton, Dinorah Martinez Tyson, Kellie Zambrano, Syed Hasan, Taylor Welniak, Yvelise Rodriguez, Crystal Bryant, Lisa M. Gudenkauf, Xiaoyin Li, Damon R. Reed, Laura B. Oswald, Andrew Galligan, Brent J. Small and Heather S. L. Jim
Cancers 2024, 16(22), 3819; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16223819 - 13 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1786
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is common and distressing for young adult (YA) cancer survivors; however, subjective CRCI is often attributed to psychological distress rather than true cognitive change. Thus, we aimed to generate hypotheses regarding potential common biobehavioral mechanisms of CRCI and [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is common and distressing for young adult (YA) cancer survivors; however, subjective CRCI is often attributed to psychological distress rather than true cognitive change. Thus, we aimed to generate hypotheses regarding potential common biobehavioral mechanisms of CRCI and psychological distress. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with YA cancer survivors in peak years for frontal neurocognitive development (ages 18–30), and we asked them to describe their experiences with cognitive and mental health changes during and after treatment for their cancer. An applied thematic analysis was used to identify themes. Results: The participants were 20 YA cancer survivors who were, on average, 23 years old at diagnosis and 26 years old when interviewed. Five themes emerged regarding the connection between cognitive and mental health: depressed mood after diagnosis that decreased mental engagement, cancer-related anxiety consumed cognitive resources during treatment, a bidirectional “downward spiral” during treatment, frustration with forgetfulness, and self-criticism about long-term cognitive limitations. Additionally, participants described receiving minimal information about evidence-based strategies for managing CRCI. Conclusions: Future research is needed to examine common neurological mechanisms among symptoms of depression, anxiety, and CRCI and to address gaps in survivorship care for YA survivors with CRCI. Cognitive–behavioral interventions may address both cognitive and mental health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Insights into Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment)

Review

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17 pages, 481 KiB  
Review
Cognitive Impairment in Prostate Cancer Patients Receiving Androgen Deprivation Therapy: A Scoping Review
by João Vasco Barreira, Pedro Barreira, Gil Falcão, Daniela Garcez, Pedro Silva, Gustavo Santos, Mário Fontes-Sousa, José Leão Mendes, Filipa Reis, Carla F. Santos, Filipa Ribeiro and Manuel Luís Capelas
Cancers 2025, 17(15), 2501; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17152501 - 29 Jul 2025
Viewed by 343
Abstract
Background: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a primary treatment for prostate cancer (PCa) that effectively reduces androgen levels to suppress tumor progression. However, growing evidence suggests potential cognitive side effects, raising concerns about the long-term neurological consequences of this treatment. Objective: This scoping [...] Read more.
Background: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a primary treatment for prostate cancer (PCa) that effectively reduces androgen levels to suppress tumor progression. However, growing evidence suggests potential cognitive side effects, raising concerns about the long-term neurological consequences of this treatment. Objective: This scoping review aims to synthesize the existing evidence linking ADT to cognitive changes in men with PCa, identifying the key cognitive domains affected and outlining gaps in the existing literature. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted according to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines in CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Studies investigating cognitive function in ADT-treated PCa patients were included, covering randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort, case–control, and cross-sectional studies. The extracted data included the study design, evaluated cognitive characteristics, measurement tools, and overall findings. Results: A total of 22 studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Cognitive assessments varied across studies. While some studies reported cognitive impairments in ADT-treated patients—particularly in working, verbal, and visual memory and executive function—others found no significant effects. The variability in prostate cancer staging, epidemiological study designs, and treatment regimens; the exclusion of comorbid conditions; and the differences in assessment tools, sample sizes, and study durations hinder definitive conclusions about the cognitive effects of ADT. Conclusions: This scoping review highlights the heterogeneous and often contradictory evidence regarding ADT-associated cognitive dysfunction. While certain cognitive domains may be affected, methodological inconsistencies limit robust conclusions. Standardized cognitive assessments and longer longitudinal studies are required to clarify ADT’s role in cognitive decline. As the PCa survival rate increases with extended ADT use, integrating routine cognitive monitoring into clinical practice should be considered for PCa patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Insights into Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment)
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