Chemotherapy-Induced Cognitive Impairment in Ovarian Cancer Patients

Chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI), also known as "chemobrain," is a spectrum of neurocognitive deficits experienced during and after the administration of chemotherapy for cancer. The incidence of CICI is significant, affecting anywhere from 25 to 75% of survivors, and the biologic basis is unknown. This novel study is designed to address the questions of incidence and biological cause for CICI, while gaining a better understanding of the structural and functional effects of chemotherapy on the brain. In order to address these important objectives, a diverse team of experienced investigators has been assembled to design and implement the proposed protocol. The research team for this project seeks to accomplish the proposed objectives through following mechanisms: 1) assessment of the neurocognitive domains affected in CICI using a tailored battery of cognitive tests to define CICI; 2) measurement of serum markers of oxidative stress and correlation of these markers with neurocognitive test results; and 3) exploration of structural and functional changes in the brain during cognitive tasks and correlation of results with markers of oxidative stress and neurocognitive test results.