ALUMNI
RESEARCH
Graduate Rachel Lagos confirms “chemo brain” phenomenon WVSOM graduate Rachel Lagos,
change in the brain — areas that get
The good news is the condition
D.O., Class of 2008, a resident in
broken down over time,” Lagos said.
appears to be temporary. The affected
diagnostic radiology at West Virginia
“But with PET/CT imaging, we’re able
areas of the brain eventually regain
University Hospital, made national
to see how the brain is using energy.”
their proper metabolism. Until then,
news recently when the research team she headed discovered physiological evidence of an effect known as PostChemotherapy Cognitive Impairment
The researchers determined key areas of the brain were experiencing significant decreases in metabolism.
loved ones can assist a chemotherapy patient by providing checklists or a daily “to do” list.
“We’re seeing changes in areas of the
“There’s a tremendous need for
brain that control problem solving,
more research in this area,” Lagos
organizing daily events, sequencing,
said. “The next step is to establish
Her study was presented in November
as well as long term memory,” she
a prospective study that begins
at the annual meeting of the
continued.
assessing new patients at the time
(PCCI), more commonly known as “chemo brain.”
Radiological Society of North America.
Breast cancer is the most common
of cancer diagnosis. For example, we might include a battery of tests prior
Using a combination of positron
cancer diagnosis for women in North
emission tomography and computed
America. One in eight women will be
tomography (PET/CT), Lagos and her
diagnosed with the disease in their
colleagues were able to demonstrate
lifetime. As many as 40 percent of
how chemotherapy can create
women undergoing chemotherapy
changes in the brain that affect
for breast cancer complain of some
Lagos emphasized that teamwork is
concentration and memory.
type of chemo brain experience,
vital not only to the success of this
describing a mental fog or haziness
research, but essential to successful
that interferes with the simplest of
patient care. “It’s critical for the
tasks. During a CME presentation
doctors who understand the imaging,
at WVSOM’s 30 annual Mid-Winter
the doctors who understand the brain
Osteopathic Seminar, Lagos confirmed
and the doctors who understand
these descriptions correspond to what
the cancer and chemotherapy to be
they’ve seen in their research.
communicating effectively with each
th
“We looked specifically at those areas
to chemotherapy which demonstrate normal cognitive skills which we can use as an additional baseline for comparison.”
other,” she said.
of the brain which are responsible
Co-authors of the study were Jame
for mental agility,” Lagos said. “We
Abraham, M.D., Gary Marano, M.D.,
measured metabolism baselines for
Marc Haut, Ph.D., and Sara Kurian,
age and gender and looked for results
M.S., of WVU Health Sciences Center.
at least two standard deviations from
Dr. Lagos will be presenting the study
normal. In one patient undergoing
in May at the National Institutes of
chemotherapy, her long-term memory
Health in Washington, D.C.
function was diminished. Upon testing, we discovered she’d dropped eight standard deviations from her “With magnetic resonance imaging
normal level.”
(MRI), we’re able to see structural
WVSOM MAGAZINE
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WINTER 2013
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