Brain Function, Structure, and Neurochemistry After Tamoxifen/Chemotherapy Assessed by Neuropsychologic Testing and H Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Abstract
The purpose of this cross-sectional pilot study is to evaluate the effects on brain function and neurochemistry in elderly women (>/= 65 years old) of two common treatment regimens for breast cancer, tamoxifen and/or chemotherapy, and their interaction. The study has a 2 x 2 design with the two treatment regimens (tamoxifen and chemotherapy) as two independent variables. During the first year of the study, 49 women were recruited in 3 of the 5 groups (14 treated with tamoxifen (patient group), 18 women receiving estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) (positive control group), and 17 negative control subjects). On magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS), women who received tamoxifen (average 4.4 years) had no statistically significant differences in brain metabolite ratios compared to the negative control group. However, women who have received ERT (average > 20 years) showed increased N-Acetyl/creatine (NA/Cr) ratio (+8%; p < 0.01) in the basal ganglia. These preliminary findings indicate that treatment with tamoxifen may not be associated with substantial negative effects on the brain. In contrast, since normal aging has been shown to be associated with decreases in NA/Cr, ERT may prevent or reduce some of the effects of normal aging on the brain. Ongoing efforts are being made to recruit subjects who received chemotherapy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA388104
Entities
People
- Thomas M. Ernst
Organizations
- Harbor–UCLA Medical Center