Effects of Chemotherapy on Brain Structure and Function

Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Diagnosis of breast cancer, meeting 1 of the following criteria:

- Group A

- Stage I, II, or III invasive disease

- Hormone receptor-positive disease

- Planned adjuvant chemotherapy including an anthracycline and taxane using
either dose-dense or docetaxel, doxorubicin hydrochloride, and
cyclophosphamide (TAC) regimens with or without trastuzumab (Herceptin®)
for 4 months; docetaxel and cyclophosphamide (TC) with or without
trastuzumab for 3 months; doxorubicin hydrochloride and cyclophosphamide
(AC) for 3 months; or doxorubicin hydrochloride, carboplatin, and
trastuzumab (TCH) for 4 months (trastuzumab may be given for 1 year and is
not considered chemotherapy for the purpose of this study)

- Planned treatment with adjuvant aromatase inhibitors (AI) for 5 years

- Group B

- Stage I or II invasive disease

- Planned treatment with adjuvant AI with or without radiotherapy

- Group C

- Stage I, II, or III disease

- Hormone-receptor negative

- Planned adjuvant chemotherapy as in group A

- No treatment with AI planned

- Group D

- Healthy controls free of any major medical or psychiatric disorders

- Not taking prescription medications, including hormone-replacement therapy,
or other substances that might influence performance on neuropsychological
tests

- Balanced with the patient groups on age, education, ethnicity, and
sociodemographic background

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- No history of psychiatric illness other than minor depression

- No history of psychiatric illness other than minor depression in immediate family
members

- No history of neurologic disease

- No history of drug or alcohol abuse

- No significant medical illness other than breast cancer

- No heart pacemaker or metallic implants or particles in the body

- No heart rhythm disturbance

- No claustrophobia

- No prior serious head injury

- No tattoos or permanent cosmetics

- No unremovable body jewelry

- No cognitive impairment

- Able to read and speak English

- No condition that compromises compliance with the objectives and procedures of this
study, as judged by the principal investigator

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- See Disease Characteristics

- No prior chemotherapy, CNS radiotherapy, or intrathecal therapy

- Premenopausal women receiving aromatase inhibitors must also be receiving ovarian
suppression

- No concurrent narcotics or major antipsychotic medications that may impair cognition