Title:Cognitive Functions under Anti-HER2 Targeted Therapy in Cancer Patients: A Scoping Review
Volume: 21
Issue: 7
Author(s): Javier García-Sánchez, María D. Torregrosa and Omar Cauli*
Affiliation:
- GIDO, Oncological Research and Dissemination Group, Valencia,Spain
Keywords:
Trastuzumab, breast cancer, pertuzumab, animal models, blood-brain barrier, side effect, brain.
Abstract: Pharmacological therapy targeting the HER2 protein is one of the major breakthroughs in
the treatment of cancer patients overexpressing HER2 who have increased survival rates. Despite improved
survival, it is important to determine the less frequent adverse effects in order to tailor treatments
more personalized to the patients’ features. The possible impact of cancer treatments on cognitive
functions is huge, and the effects of anti-HER 2 therapies on this issue have not been reviewed and
are the objective of this study. Analysis of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane library and Web of Science
databases revealed six studies performed in breast and serous uterine cancer patients analyzing cognitive
function under chemotherapy regimens including anti-HER2 drugs. Four of these studies reported
small to significant worsening of cognitive function following chemotherapy regimens containing trastuzumab
(the most widely used anti-HER2 drug). In neoadjuvant settings, and in breast cancer patients,
treatment with the new anti-HER-2 drug trastuzumab emtansine seems to induce less cognitive impairment
than therapeutic regimens containing chemotherapy and trastuzumab. Acute administration of
trastuzumab induced cognitive impairment in gastric cancer mice models, confirming its ability to alter
cognitive function in patients. More studies analyzing the impact of anti-HER2 therapy on cognitive
function are necessary at preclinical and clinical levels in order to personalize pharmacological treatment
and offer cancer patients a better quality of life.
