Breast Cancer TreatmentNCT03017560
Treating Verbal Memory Deficits Following Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer
A study testing Computerized cognitive treatment in people with Breast Cancer Treatment and Cognitive Deficits, run by Northwestern University.
Trial summary
The primary purpose of this study is to test the effects of a targeted, computerized cognitive training program on verbal memory in older women who have undergone chemotherapy treatment for early-stage breast cancer. As measured by neuropsychological assessment, this treatment will result in improved verbal memory. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 to 90 years, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Breast Cancer Treatment, Cognitive Deficits
- What is being tested?
- Computerized cognitive treatment
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 45 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Dec 2015to May 2017
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 65 to 90 years
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Women ages 65-90
- Chemotherapy treatment for early-stage (I, IIa, IIb, IIIa) breast cancer
- Post-menopausal
- High school education or greater
- Geographically available for followup assessment
- Native English speaker
- Normal or corrected to near-normal hearing and vision
Who cannot join
- Psychiatric history including past or current psychotic spectrum disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, dementia, schizoaffective disorder)
- Brain injury (e.g., stroke, heart attack, aneurysm, tumor, concussion, head trauma)
- Brain disease
- History of brain irradiation or surgery
- Current or past disease/disorder of the central nervous system or medical condition affecting cognitive functioning (e.g., chronic migraine, epilepsy or history of seizures, encephalitis, meningitis, multiple sclerosis, thyroid condition, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Huntington's disease)
- Active diagnosis of autoimmune or inflammatory disorder (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, insulin-dependent diabetes, Crohn's disease, uncontrolled allergic reaction or asthma)
Show all 13Show fewer
- History of other cancer, except for basal cell carcinoma
- Development of a second primary malignancy during the study
- Drug or alcohol abuse (i.e., more than 7 drinks per week)
- Chronic use of oral steroid medication
- Former (prior to early-stage breast cancer) intrathecal therapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or any neoadjuvant chemotherapy
- Acquired or developmental speech, language, or learning disorders (e.g., aphasia, dyslexia, dysgraphia, auditory processing disorder, autism, developmental delay)
- Hormone replacement therapy, excluding vaginal estrogen
About this study
The primary purpose of this study is to test the effects of a targeted, computerized cognitive training program on verbal memory in older women who have undergone chemotherapy treatment for early-stage breast cancer. As measured by neuropsychological assessment, this treatment will result in improved verbal memory. Secondarily, processing speed and naming abilities are expected to improve. Enhanced self-perception of cognitive ability is also expected.
- Conditions
- Breast Cancer Treatment, Cognitive Deficits
- Being tested
- Computerized cognitive treatment
- Keywords
- Breast Cancer, Chemotherapy, Verbal Memory, Processing Speed
- Medical subject headings
- Cognition Disorders, Breast Neoplasms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Computerized cognitive treatmentBehavioural
Participants will engage in auditory and verbal memory exercises intended to improve verbal memory functioning. The exercises are: Elephant Memory, Words where are you?, Split words, Bird Songs, Sound check, and You've got voicemail. Participants will complete the exercises 1 hour per day, 6 days per week, for 6 weeks. The program automatically adjusts difficulty level according to individual performance. The program captures and reports all relevant data to the primary investigator, including accuracy and reaction time (speed), which will be used to measure progress.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Computerized cognitive treatment | Experimental | Chosen exercises from the rehabilitation package of a commercially available, computerized, cognitive training program called Happy Neuron Pro will be used. This program was designed by a team of neurologists, neuropsychologists and cognitive psychologists, and has been successfully adapted for varying conditions of cognitive dysfunction. Receives: Behavioral: Computerized cognitive treatment |
| Wait list control | No intervention | Participants assigned to the wait list control arm will receive no treatment while the experimental arm is participating in the computerized treatment. However, the computerized treatment program will be made available for these participants to utilize at the end of the study period. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Verbal Memory
Immediate and delayed verbal memory
Measured: Change in Verbal Memory scores from Pretreatment/Baseline to Posttreatment/6 weeks, from Posttreatment/6 weeks to 1 month followup/10 weeks, and from Pretreatment/Baseline to 1 month followup/10 weeks.
Secondary outcomes (2)
Processing Speed measured via Lexical Decision Task
The Lexical Decision Task is a computerized task that measures processing speed by calculating reaction times to verb and non-verb stimuli. Outcome is measured by reaction time in milliseconds.
Measured: Change in Processing Speed scores from Pretreatment/Baseline to Posttreatment/6 weeks, from Posttreatment/6 weeks to 1 month followup/10 weeks, and from Pretreatment/Baseline to 1 month followup/10 weeks
Processing Speed measured via Stroop Color-Word Test
The Stroop Color-Word task is a paper and pencil task that measures processing speed by assessing correct number of words read, correct number of color names read, and correct number of color-word interference pairs (i.e., names of colors printed in non-matching ink colors) read in 45 seconds. Outcomes are measured in raw scores and associated T-scores referenced against sex+age normative groups. The Stroop Color-Word Test scores will not be aggregated with the Lexical Decision Task scores.
Measured: Change in Processing Speed scores from Pretreatment/Baseline to Posttreatment/6 weeks, from Posttreatment/6 weeks to 1 month followup/10 weeks, and from Pretreatment/Baseline to 1 month followup/10 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 Jan 2017 (estimated)
- Study startDec 2015
- Primary completionMay 2017
- Study completionMay 2017
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (16)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Breast Cancer TreatmentStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Northwestern UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Northwestern University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Diane F Morean, PhD, Principal investigator, Northwestern University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03017560
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STU00200767
- Status last verified
- Nov 2023
- First submitted
- 3 Jan 2017
- Last updated
- 7 Nov 2023
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
American Cancer Society (2014). Cancer prevalence: How many people have cancer? Retrieved March 24, 2015 from http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancerbasics/cancer-prevalence.
McKoy JM, Samaras AT, Bennett CL. Providing cancer care to a graying and diverse cancer population in the 21st century: are we prepared? J Clin Oncol. 2009 Jun 10;27(17):2745-6. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2009.22.4352. Epub 2009 Apr 29. No abstract available.
PubMed 19403884Smith BD, Smith GL, Hurria A, Hortobagyi GN, Buchholz TA. Future of cancer incidence in the United States: burdens upon an aging, changing nation. J Clin Oncol. 2009 Jun 10;27(17):2758-65. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2008.20.8983. Epub 2009 Apr 29.
PubMed 19403886Von Ah D, Carpenter JS, Saykin A, Monahan P, Wu J, Yu M, Rebok G, Ball K, Schneider B, Weaver M, Tallman E, Unverzagt F. Advanced cognitive training for breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2012 Oct;135(3):799-809. doi: 10.1007/s10549-012-2210-6. Epub 2012 Aug 24.
PubMed 22918524Poppelreuter M, Weis J, Bartsch HH. Effects of specific neuropsychological training programs for breast cancer patients after adjuvant chemotherapy. J Psychosoc Oncol. 2009;27(2):274-96. doi: 10.1080/07347330902776044.
PubMed 19337933Kesler S, Hadi Hosseini SM, Heckler C, Janelsins M, Palesh O, Mustian K, Morrow G. Cognitive training for improving executive function in chemotherapy-treated breast cancer survivors. Clin Breast Cancer. 2013 Aug;13(4):299-306. doi: 10.1016/j.clbc.2013.02.004. Epub 2013 May 4.
PubMed 23647804Ercoli LM, Castellon SA, Hunter AM, Kwan L, Kahn-Mills BA, Cernin PA, Leuchter AF, Ganz PA. Assessment of the feasibility of a rehabilitation intervention program for breast cancer survivors with cognitive complaints. Brain Imaging Behav. 2013 Dec;7(4):543-53. doi: 10.1007/s11682-013-9237-0.
PubMed 23955490Ferguson RJ, Ahles TA, Saykin AJ, McDonald BC, Furstenberg CT, Cole BF, Mott LA. Cognitive-behavioral management of chemotherapy-related cognitive change. Psychooncology. 2007 Aug;16(8):772-7. doi: 10.1002/pon.1133.
PubMed 17152119Ferguson RJ, McDonald BC, Rocque MA, Furstenberg CT, Horrigan S, Ahles TA, Saykin AJ. Development of CBT for chemotherapy-related cognitive change: results of a waitlist control trial. Psychooncology. 2012 Feb;21(2):176-86. doi: 10.1002/pon.1878. Epub 2010 Dec 2.
PubMed 22271538Lange M, Rigal O, Clarisse B, Giffard B, Sevin E, Barillet M, Eustache F, Joly F. Cognitive dysfunctions in elderly cancer patients: a new challenge for oncologists. Cancer Treat Rev. 2014 Jul;40(6):810-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2014.03.003. Epub 2014 Mar 20.
PubMed 24713425Jenkins V, Shilling V, Fallowfield L, Howell A, Hutton S. Does hormone therapy for the treatment of breast cancer have a detrimental effect on memory and cognition? A pilot study. Psychooncology. 2004 Jan;13(1):61-6. doi: 10.1002/pon.709.
PubMed 14745746McKoy JM, Burhenn PS, Browner IS, Loeser KL, Tulas KM, Oden MR, Rupper RW. Assessing cognitive function and capacity in older adults with cancer. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2014 Jan;12(1):138-44. doi: 10.6004/jnccn.2014.0011.
PubMed 24453297Kueider AM, Parisi JM, Gross AL, Rebok GW. Computerized cognitive training with older adults: a systematic review. PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e40588. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040588. Epub 2012 Jul 11.
PubMed 22792378Maseda A, Millan-Calenti JC, Lorenzo-Lopez L, Nunez-Naveira L. Efficacy of a computerized cognitive training application for older adults with and without memory impairments. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2013 Aug;25(4):411-9. doi: 10.1007/s40520-013-0070-5. Epub 2013 Jun 19.
PubMed 23780693Gunther VK, Schafer P, Holzner BJ, Kemmler GW. Long-term improvements in cognitive performance through computer-assisted cognitive training: a pilot study in a residential home for older people. Aging Ment Health. 2003 May;7(3):200-6. doi: 10.1080/1360786031000101175.
PubMed 12775401
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 Nov 2023. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Treating Verbal Memory Deficits Following Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03017560
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STU00200767
- Conditions
- Breast Cancer Treatment, Cognitive Deficits
- Keywords
- Breast Cancer, Chemotherapy, Verbal Memory, Processing Speed
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Northwestern UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
- Study start
- Dec 2015 (actual)
- Primary completion
- May 2017 (actual)
- Study completion
- May 2017 (actual)
- First posted
- 11 Jan 2017 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The primary purpose of this study is to test the effects of a targeted, computerized cognitive training program on verbal memory in older women who have undergone chemotherapy treatment for early-stage breast cancer. As measured by neuropsychological assessment, this treatment will result in improved verbal memory. Secondarily, processing speed and naming abilities are expected to improve. Enhanced self-perception of cognitive ability is also expected.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Computerized cognitive treatment | Experimental | Behavioral: Computerized cognitive treatmentChosen exercises from the rehabilitation package of a commercially available, computerized, cognitive training program called Happy Neuron Pro will be used. This program was designed by a team of neurologists, neuropsychologists and cognitive psychologists, and has been successfully adapted for varying conditions of cognitive dysfunction. |
| Wait list control | No intervention | –Participants assigned to the wait list control arm will receive no treatment while the experimental arm is participating in the computerized treatment. However, the computerized treatment program will be made available for these participants to utilize at the end of the study period. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 to 90 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Women ages 65-90
- Chemotherapy treatment for early-stage (I, IIa, IIb, IIIa) breast cancer
- Post-menopausal
- High school education or greater
- Geographically available for followup assessment
Key exclusion criteria (13 listed)
- Psychiatric history including past or current psychotic spectrum disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, dementia, schizoaffective disorder)
- Brain injury (e.g., stroke, heart attack, aneurysm, tumor, concussion, head trauma)
- Brain disease
- History of brain irradiation or surgery
- Current or past disease/disorder of the central nervous system or medical condition affecting cognitive functioning (e.g., chronic migraine, epilepsy or history of seizures, encephalitis, meningitis, multiple sclerosis, thyroid condition, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Huntington's disease)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Computerized cognitive treatmentParticipants will engage in auditory and verbal memory exercises intended to improve verbal memory functioning. The exercises are: Elephant Memory, Words where are you?, Split words, Bird Songs, Sound check, and You've got voicemail. Participants will complete the exercises 1 hour per day, 6 days per week, for 6 weeks. The program automatically adjusts difficulty level according to individual performance. The program captures and reports all relevant data to the primary investigator, including accuracy and reaction time (speed), which will be used to measure progress. | Behavioural | Computerized cognitive treatment |
Primary outcome
Verbal Memory
Time frame: Change in Verbal Memory scores from Pretreatment/Baseline to Posttreatment/6 weeks, from Posttreatment/6 weeks to 1 month followup/10 weeks, and from Pretreatment/Baseline to 1 month followup/10 weeks.
Immediate and delayed verbal memory
2 secondary outcomes
Processing Speed measured via Lexical Decision Task
Time frame: Change in Processing Speed scores from Pretreatment/Baseline to Posttreatment/6 weeks, from Posttreatment/6 weeks to 1 month followup/10 weeks, and from Pretreatment/Baseline to 1 month followup/10 weeks
Processing Speed measured via Stroop Color-Word Test
Time frame: Change in Processing Speed scores from Pretreatment/Baseline to Posttreatment/6 weeks, from Posttreatment/6 weeks to 1 month followup/10 weeks, and from Pretreatment/Baseline to 1 month followup/10 weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 7 Nov 2023.
- BackgroundAmerican Cancer Society (2014). Cancer prevalence: How many people have cancer? Retrieved March 24, 2015 from http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancerbasics/cancer-prevalence.
- Background: PubMed 19403884McKoy JM, Samaras AT, Bennett CL. Providing cancer care to a graying and diverse cancer population in the 21st century: are we prepared? J Clin Oncol. 2009 Jun 10;27(17):2745-6. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2009.22.4352. Epub 2009 Apr 29. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 19403886Smith BD, Smith GL, Hurria A, Hortobagyi GN, Buchholz TA. Future of cancer incidence in the United States: burdens upon an aging, changing nation. J Clin Oncol. 2009 Jun 10;27(17):2758-65. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2008.20.8983. Epub 2009 Apr 29.
- Background: PubMed 22918524Von Ah D, Carpenter JS, Saykin A, Monahan P, Wu J, Yu M, Rebok G, Ball K, Schneider B, Weaver M, Tallman E, Unverzagt F. Advanced cognitive training for breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2012 Oct;135(3):799-809. doi: 10.1007/s10549-012-2210-6. Epub 2012 Aug 24.
- Background: PubMed 19337933Poppelreuter M, Weis J, Bartsch HH. Effects of specific neuropsychological training programs for breast cancer patients after adjuvant chemotherapy. J Psychosoc Oncol. 2009;27(2):274-96. doi: 10.1080/07347330902776044.
- Background: PubMed 23647804Kesler S, Hadi Hosseini SM, Heckler C, Janelsins M, Palesh O, Mustian K, Morrow G. Cognitive training for improving executive function in chemotherapy-treated breast cancer survivors. Clin Breast Cancer. 2013 Aug;13(4):299-306. doi: 10.1016/j.clbc.2013.02.004. Epub 2013 May 4.
- Background: PubMed 23955490Ercoli LM, Castellon SA, Hunter AM, Kwan L, Kahn-Mills BA, Cernin PA, Leuchter AF, Ganz PA. Assessment of the feasibility of a rehabilitation intervention program for breast cancer survivors with cognitive complaints. Brain Imaging Behav. 2013 Dec;7(4):543-53. doi: 10.1007/s11682-013-9237-0.
- Background: PubMed 17152119Ferguson RJ, Ahles TA, Saykin AJ, McDonald BC, Furstenberg CT, Cole BF, Mott LA. Cognitive-behavioral management of chemotherapy-related cognitive change. Psychooncology. 2007 Aug;16(8):772-7. doi: 10.1002/pon.1133.
- Background: PubMed 22271538Ferguson RJ, McDonald BC, Rocque MA, Furstenberg CT, Horrigan S, Ahles TA, Saykin AJ. Development of CBT for chemotherapy-related cognitive change: results of a waitlist control trial. Psychooncology. 2012 Feb;21(2):176-86. doi: 10.1002/pon.1878. Epub 2010 Dec 2.
- Background: PubMed 24713425Lange M, Rigal O, Clarisse B, Giffard B, Sevin E, Barillet M, Eustache F, Joly F. Cognitive dysfunctions in elderly cancer patients: a new challenge for oncologists. Cancer Treat Rev. 2014 Jul;40(6):810-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2014.03.003. Epub 2014 Mar 20.
- Background: PubMed 14745746Jenkins V, Shilling V, Fallowfield L, Howell A, Hutton S. Does hormone therapy for the treatment of breast cancer have a detrimental effect on memory and cognition? A pilot study. Psychooncology. 2004 Jan;13(1):61-6. doi: 10.1002/pon.709.
- Background: PubMed 24453297McKoy JM, Burhenn PS, Browner IS, Loeser KL, Tulas KM, Oden MR, Rupper RW. Assessing cognitive function and capacity in older adults with cancer. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2014 Jan;12(1):138-44. doi: 10.6004/jnccn.2014.0011.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Diane F Morean, PhD principal investigator
Northwestern University
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Computerized cognitive treatment in people with Breast Cancer Treatment and Cognitive Deficits, run by Northwestern University.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 13 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Nov 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Verbal Memory (time frame: Change in Verbal Memory scores from Pretreatment/Baseline to Posttreatment/6 weeks, from Posttreatment/6 weeks to 1 month followup/10 weeks, and from Pretreatment/Baseline to 1 month followup/10 weeks.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03017560, which also lists 16 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 Nov 2023.