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Elevated prefrontal myo-inositol and choline following breast cancer chemotherapy

  • SI: Neuroimaging Studies of Cancer and Cancer Treatment
  • Published:
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Abstract

Breast cancer survivors are at increased risk for cognitive dysfunction, which reduces quality of life. Neuroimaging studies provide critical insights regarding the mechanisms underlying these cognitive deficits as well as potential biologic targets for interventions. We measured several metabolite concentrations using 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy as well as cognitive performance in 19 female breast cancer survivors and 17 age-matched female controls. Women with breast cancer were all treated with chemotherapy. Results indicated significantly increased choline (Cho) and myo-inositol (mI) with correspondingly decreased N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/Cho and NAA/mI ratios in the breast cancer group compared to controls. The breast cancer group reported reduced executive function and memory, and subjective memory ability was correlated with mI and Cho levels in both groups. These findings provide preliminary evidence of an altered metabolic profile that increases our understanding of neurobiologic status post-breast cancer and chemotherapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, 401 Quarry Rd., Stanford, CA, 94305-5795, USA

    Shelli R. Kesler, Christa Watson, Della Koovakkattu, Clement Lee & Ruth O’Hara

  2. Stanford Cancer Institute, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA

    Shelli R. Kesler & Misty L. Mahaffey

  3. Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA

    Christa Watson

  4. Department of Neuro-Oncology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Jeffrey S. Wefel

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  1. Shelli R. Kesler
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  2. Christa Watson
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  3. Della Koovakkattu
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  4. Clement Lee
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  7. Jeffrey S. Wefel
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Correspondence to Shelli R. Kesler.

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This study was funded by National Institutes of Health (1 DP2 OD004445-01: SK).

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Kesler, S.R., Watson, C., Koovakkattu, D. et al. Elevated prefrontal myo-inositol and choline following breast cancer chemotherapy. Brain Imaging and Behavior 7, 501–510 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-013-9228-1

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