Author:

Abstract:

Cognitive impairment is a common toxicity of cancer treatment. A better understanding of changes in brain structure and function may provide information regarding the neural basis of cancer-related cognitive impairment and facilitate therapeutic development. Cognition is believed to be supported by dynamic functional brain networks that depend heavily on underlying structural connectivity. Therefore, investigations of brain connectivity may contribute novel information regarding the neurobiologic mechanisms of cancer-related cognitive impairment. In this symposium, researchers will present the advantages and application of brain connectivity approaches to evaluating the chemotherapy-related neurotoxicity that may underlie cancer-related cognitive difficulties. These presentations will encompass multi-modal methods including resting state functional MRI (fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging and connectomics. Alternate but complementary methodological options for measuring functional connectivity from resting state fMRI will be demonstrated. Brain connectivity associated with both adult-onset and pediatric cancers will be discussed in addition to the relationships between altered brain connectivity and cognitive status. The research that will be presented demonstrates chemotherapy-related alterations in both structural and functional connectivity including both short-and longer-term brain connectivity changes. These studies consistently show correlations between brain connectivity and cognitive outcome, and demonstrate the complexity of interpreting these relationships. We aim to engage in a discussion that will highlight the significant potential of brain connectivity as a biomarker of chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment. This discussion will include advantages and disadvantages of these approaches as well as ideas for improving the implementation of these methods in future studies.