International Cognition and Cancer Task Force recommendations to harmonise studies of cognitive function in patients with cancer

• Published in: The lancet oncology Vol. 12; no. 7; pp. 703 - 708
• Main Authors: Wefel, Jeffrey S, PhD, Vardy, Janette, MD, Ahles, Tim, Prof, Schagen, Sanne B, Dr
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2011; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Advisory Committees; Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Chemotherapy; Cognition & reasoning; Cognition - drug effects; Cognition - physiology; Cognition Disorders - chemically induced; Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; Cognitive ability; Cytotoxicity; Drugs; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; International Cooperation; Longitudinal studies; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neuropsychological Tests; Neuropsychology; Research design; Reviews; Risk factors; Side effects; Task forces; Tumors; Working groups
• ISSN: 1470-2045; 1474-5488
• DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(10)70294-1

Summary It has become increasingly apparent that cytotoxic drugs given systemically for non-CNS tumours might have cognitive side-effects, but many fundamental questions require further elucidation, and large samples from several institutions are needed. Two working groups brought together by the International Cognition and Cancer Task Force (ICCTF) developed recommendations for a core set of neuropsychological tests, common criterion for defining cognitive impairment and cognitive changes, and common approaches to improve the homogeneity of study methods. These recommendations will improve research design and facilitate study combinations, between-study comparisons, and meta-analyses, which will allow more accurate estimates of incidence, severity, individual risk factors, and causes of cognitive problems associated with chemotherapy for non-CNS tumours.