Chemotherapy-related cognitive changes in colorectal cancer patients: a feasibility trial

Abstract

Background: Research suggests that chemotherapy can cause decline in patients’ cognitive functions. Objective: To assess the feasibility and acceptability of a multi-site study designed to examine the nature and extent of chemotherapy-related cognitive changes in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients (“Protocolâ€). Method: Data was collected over 9 months using objective and self-reported measures of cognitive functioning and self-reported quality of life, fatigue and mood questionnaires (the “batteryâ€). The battery was administered pre- and mid-chemotherapy to a consecutive sample of CRC patients across three London-based NHS Trusts. All participants included patients who had undergone colorectal surgery and were scheduled to have adjuvant chemotherapy, or no further cancer treatment. Main outcome measures: Recruitment procedures, rate of recruitment, suitability of exclusion/inclusion criteria, acceptability of data collection procedures and the battery, and attrition rates. Results: From April 2014 to December 2014, 54 eligible participants were invited to take part in the trial. Of the 20 that completed pre-chemotherapy assessments, only 1 withdrew at follow-up due to reasons of ill health from disease recurrence. All participants completed the entire battery and indicated that they found the trial acceptable. What went wrong: Strained researcher resources; loss of eligible participants to competing studies; restrictive upper age limit. Possible solutions: Removal of upper age limit, an increased dedicated research team to increase rate of recruitment. Conclusions: The Protocol is feasible with suggested amendments and is acceptable to patients and medical teams. Acceptability of trial to medical teams is further evidenced by requests of collaboration from two additional NHS Trusts.