Review article

Patohophysiological and molecular bases of cognitive dysfunction in cancer patients

Duška Petranović orcid.org/0000-0001-9225-956X ; Zavod za hematologiju, kliničku imunologiju i reumatologiju, Klinika za internu medicinu, KBC Rijeka, Rijeka
Gorazd Pilčić ; Zavod za hematologiju, kliničku imunologiju i reumatologiju, Klinika za internu medicinu, KBC Rijeka, Rijeka
Renata Dobrila-Dintinjana ; Klinika za radioterapiju i onkologiju, KBC Rijeka, Rijeka
Paula Podolski ; Klinika za onkologiju i radioterapiju, KBC Zagreb, Zagreb
Vlatka Sotošek-Tokmadžić ; Katedra za anesteziologiju, reanimatologiju i intenzivno liječenje, Medicinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci, Rijeka
Gordana Laškarin ; Katedra za anesteziologiju, reanimatologiju i intenzivno liječenje, Medicinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci, Rijeka

Abstract

Recent studies showed clear evidence of neurocognitive deficits in patients with malignant disease. Cognitive disorders in these patients may be due to the malignant tumor (localization in the CNS or tissue damage as a part of the paraneoplastic syndrome), its treatment, infection, anemia, immune, genetic and metabolic disorders, nutritional deficiency, or a combination of these and many other factors. The first studies on this topic have focused on cognitive dysfunction as a side effect of chemotherapy, but recent evidence shows that they can occur at any stage of the malignancy, even before diagnosis, during therapy and long time after succsessful cure. Learning, memorizing, concentration, thinking and other cognitive and psychomotor disturbances could vary from very mild to serious deficits like dementia. Cognitive dysfunction in cancer patients is an important issue, because of its impact on the everyday quality of life, especially in the working, cognitive and social activities. Although many previous studies on the subject found some role of various cytokines, genes and other factors, scientists agree that we are still far from complete explanation of complex etiology of cognitive impairment in patients with malignant diseases. The aim of those studies was to discover and prevent cognitive deterioration in vulnerable cancer patients.We present here the literature review and the findings on patophysiological and immunopatophysiological mechanisms of cognitive disfunctions in cancer patients.

Keywords

biological markers; cancer; cognition; nervous system; paraneoplastic syndromes

Hrčak ID:

144059

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/144059

Publication date:

1.9.2015.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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