An update on neurobiological mechanisms involved in the development of chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI)

• Published in: Toxicology reports 2023-01, Vol.10, p.544-553
• Main Authors: Murillo, Laura Catalina, Sutachan, Jhon Jairo, Albarracín, Sonia Luz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: central nervous system; Chemobrain; Chemotherapy drugs, CICI; cognition; cognitive disorders; Cognitive impairment, Neurotoxicity; death; drug therapy; early diagnosis; memory; neoplasms; neurotoxicity; toxicology
• ISSN: 2214-7500; 2214-7500
• DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2023.04.015

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide despite efforts in early diagnosis of the disease and advances in treatment. The use of drugs that exert toxic effects on tumor cells or chemotherapy is one of the most widely used treatments against cancer. However, its low toxic selectivity affects both healthy cells and cancer cells. It has been reported that chemotherapeutic drugs may generate neurotoxicity that induces deleterious effects of chemotherapy in the central nervous system. In this sense, patients report decreased cognitive abilities, such as memory, learning, and some executive functions after chemotherapy. This chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI) develops during treatment and persists even after chemotherapy. Here we present a review of the literature on the main neurobiological mechanisms involved in CICI using a Boolean formula following the steps of the PRISMA guidelines that were used to perform statements searches in various databases. The main mechanisms described in the literature to explain CRCI include direct and indirect mechanisms that induce neurotoxicity by chemotherapeutic agents. Therefore, this review provides a general understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms of CICI and the possible therapeutic targets to prevent it.. [Display omitted] •Cancer treatment can cause chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI).•CICI or chemobrain is the general concept to explain cognitive impairments.•Cognitive deficits have been reported in patients and cancer survivors.•CICI’s mechanisms include neurotoxicity, inflammation, and impaired neurogenesis.