Biomarkers of Cognitive Impairment in Pediatric Cancer Survivors
Authors: AnnaLynn M. Williams, Peter D. Cole
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2021)

Article Tools REVIEW ARTICLES Neurocognitive Outcomes in Survivors of Pediatric Cancer Article Tools OPTIONS & TOOLS Export Citation Track Citation Add To Favorites Rights & Permissions COMPANION ARTICLES No companion articles ARTICLE CITATION DOI: 10.1200/JCO.20.02436 Journal of Clinical Oncology - published online before print April 22, 2021 PMID: 33886369 Biomarkers of Cognitive Impairment in Pediatric Cancer Survivors AnnaLynn M. Williams , PhD1xAnnaLynn M. WilliamsSearch for articles by this author and Peter D. Cole , MD2xPeter D. ColeSearch for articles by this author Show More 1Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN2Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.20.02436 First Page Full Text PDF Figures and Tables © 2021 by American Society of Clinical OncologyCONTEXTKey ObjectiveChildren treated for cancer frequently exhibit neurocognitive impairments during treatment. There exists high interpatient variability in neurocognitive outcomes, however, that is not fully explained by demographic, disease, or treatment factors. The chronic nature of these impairments, which can persist for decades into survivorship, suggests an accumulation of molecular and structural damage over time. Analysis of biomarkers indicating pathologic physiology within the CNS may identify those children who are most susceptible to cancer-related neurocognitive decline.Knowledge GeneratedIncreasing evidence from preclinical and adult studies suggests that inflammation, oxidative stress, altered folate physiology, and epigenetic changes may play a role in cancer-related cognitive impairment. There is, however, a paucity of research on these biomarkers in childhood cancer survivors.RelevanceIdentification of biomarkers that can predict both acute and long-term neurocognitive impairment may inform on underlying causal mechanisms and contribute to the design of clinical trials testing protective interventions.AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONSConception and design: All authorsCollection and assembly of data: All authorsData analysis and interpretation: All authorsManuscript writing: All authorsFinal approval of manuscript: All authorsAccountable for all aspects of the work: All authorsAUTHORS’ DISCLOSURES OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTERESTBiomarkers of Cognitive Impairment in Pediatric Cancer SurvivorsThe following represents disclosure information provided by authors of this manuscript. All relationships are considered compensated unless otherwise noted. Relationships are self-held unless noted. I = Immediate Family Member, Inst = My Institution. Relationships may not relate to the subject matter of this manuscript. For more information about ASCO’s conflict of interest policy, please refer to www.asco.org/rwc or ascopubs.org/jco/authors/author-center.Open Payments is a public database containing information reported by companies about payments made to US-licensed physicians (Open Payments).No potential conflicts of interest were reported.