J Clin Oncol
Donepezil evaluated for treatment of cognitive impairment in breast cancer survivors
May 22, 2024
Treatment with donepezil, a cognitive enhancer, failed to improve memory or other cognitive functions as compared to placebo in breast cancer survivors with cancer-related cognitive impairment one to five years after adjuvant chemotherapy.
- In the phase III WF-97116 trial, 276 (mean age, 57.1 years) breast cancer survivors (BCS) exposed to ≥4 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy 1-5 years before enrollment who reported cancer-related cognitive impairment were enrolled at sites affiliated with the Wake Forest NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Research Base.
- Participants were randomly assigned to receive 5 mg of donepezil once daily for 6 weeks titrated to 10 mg once daily for 18 weeks (n=140), or placebo (n=136). Cognition and self-report cognitive functioning was assessed at baseline, 12, 24 (end of intervention), and 36 (washout) weeks postrandomization. Primary outcome measure was memory at week 24, assessed using the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R; score range = 0–6, higher being better).
- At 24 weeks, treatment groups didn't differ on HVLT-R scores (donepezil mean = 25.98, placebo = 26.50, P = .32).
- There were no statistically significant differences between treatments at 12, 24, or 36 weeks for attention, executive function, verbal fluency, processing speed, or self-reported cognitive functioning. Endocrine therapy and menopausal status didn't affect results.
Source:
Rapp SR, et al. (2024, May 6). J Clin Oncol. Phase III Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Donepezil for Treatment of Cognitive Impairment in Breast Cancer Survivors After Adjuvant Chemotherapy (WF-97116). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38709986/
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