Tuyển tập các báo cáo nghiên cứu về sinh học được đăng trên tạp chí sinh học Journal of Biology đề tài: How chemotherapy damages the central nervous system Christina A Meyers. | Journal of Biology BioMed Central Minireview How chemotherapy damages the central nervous system Christina A Meyers Address Department of Neuro-Oncology University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center 1515 Holcombe Boulevard Unit 431 Houston TX 77030 USA. Email cameyers@ Published 22 April 2008 Journal of Biology 2008 7 11 doi jbiol73 The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at http content 7 4 11 2008 BioMed Central Ltd Abstract Chemotherapy adversely affects cognitive function both acutely and chronically but little is known about the underlying mechanisms. A new study shows that short-term chemotherapy causes not only acute injury to progenitor cells but also delayed damage to myelin. The successful management of many cancers has been achieved mainly by aggressive treatment. Chemotherapy is generally not very specific and it puts normal tissues and organs at risk. Although the brain is given some protection from systemic treatments by the blood-brain barrier it is increasingly recognized that many chemotherapeutic agents affect brain function by direct and or indirect mechanisms. Thus cancer patients can experience various adverse symptoms including cognitive dysfunction. Cancer patients have always known that their cognitive function is less efficient during cancer treatment although in the past it may have been attributed to other causes such as stress or depression. Several studies over the past decade have shown that this is a real effect of the disease and of its treatment on brain function 1-3 . It is also increasingly clear that cognitive dysfunction persists in some individuals long after treatment is ended and some patients never fully recover 3 4 . Persistent symptoms are a cause of considerable distress for individuals who cannot return to their previous academic occupational or social activities or who can do so only with significant additional mental effort. However the .
