Subjective and objective cancer-related cognitive impairment in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

1st place for Understanding Cancer Risk and Survivorship at the Denman Undergraduate Research ForumAbstract Introduction: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) or chemo-brain refers to impairment across domains of executive functioning amongst cancer patients. Cognitive impairment has been reported in patients before, during, and after treatment and is associated with a reduction in quality of life. The current study using a prospective longitudinal study design. examines the cognitive effects of a novel immunotherapy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients, an under-represented cancer group in CRCI literature. Method: Forty-four (44) patients with CLL were assessed at pre-treatment, and upon 6 months, and 12 months of receiving treatment in a phase II trial of obinutuzumab, venetoclax, and ibrutinib immunotherapy. Cognition was assessed through recommended subjective, self-report and objective, neuropsychological assessments: Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System: Cognitive Function (PROMIS-CF), NIH Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), and Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT). Independent-samples t-tests and linear mixed models examined effects of prior treatment history, time, and potential moderating covariates (e.g. age, and symptoms of depression and anxiety). Results: Cognitive impairment was self-reported in 75%-60% of patients across treatment on the PROMIS-CF. Cognitive impairment on neuropsychological tests (AVLT and COWAT) was observed in 9%-3.6% of patients across treatment. There was no increase in cognitive impairment across all measures regardless of prior treatment history or time. Only symptoms of depression and anxiety were associated with PROMIS-CF scores across treatment, F (1,67) = 51.51, p = .00; F (1, 52) = 17.21, p = .00. Conclusion: CLL patients show similar rates of CRCI as other cancer groups. These findings suggest CLL patients are not at increased risk for cognitive impairment at pre-treatment assessment and across time. Further research is necessary to validate the findings of this novel study.No embargoAcademic Major: Psycholog