Neurocognitive functioning in adult survivors of childhood non-central nervous system cancers

J Natl Cancer Inst. 2010 Jun 16;102(12):881-93. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djq156. Epub 2010 May 10.

Abstract

BACKGROUND We sought to measure self-reported neurocognitive functioning among survivors of non-central nervous system (CNS) childhood cancers, overall and compared with a sibling cohort, and to identify factors associated with worse functioning. METHODS In a retrospective cohort study, 5937 adult survivors of non-CNS cancers and 382 siblings completed a validated neuropsychological instrument with subscales in task efficiency, emotional regulation, organization, and memory. Scores were converted to T scores; scores in the worst 10% of siblings' scores (ie, T score > or =63) were defined as impaired. Non-CNS cancer survivors and siblings were compared with multivariable linear regression and log-binomial regression. Among survivors, log-binomial models assessed the association of patient and treatment factors with neurocognitive dysfunction. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS Non-CNS cancer survivors had similar or slightly worse (<0.5 standard deviation) mean test scores for all four subscales than siblings. However, frequencies of impaired survivors were approximately 50% higher than siblings in task efficiency (13.0% of survivors vs 7.3% of siblings), memory (12.5% vs 7.6%), and emotional regulation (21.2% vs 14.4%). Impaired task efficiency was most often identified in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who received cranial radiation therapy (18.1% with impairment), myeloid leukemia who received cranial radiation therapy (21.2%), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (13.9%). In adjusted analysis, diagnosis age of younger than 6 years, female sex, cranial radiation therapy, and hearing impairment were associated with impairment. CONCLUSION A statistically and clinically significantly higher percentage of self-reported neurocognitive impairment was found among survivors of non-CNS cancers than among siblings.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age of Onset
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cognition Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology
  • Cognition*
  • Cranial Irradiation / adverse effects
  • Educational Status
  • Emotions
  • Female
  • Hearing Loss / complications
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Male
  • Memory
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Neoplasms / complications
  • Neoplasms / physiopathology*
  • Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Factors
  • Stress, Psychological / epidemiology
  • Survivors*
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Young Adult