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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2016 Aug 2.
Published in final edited form as: J Geriatr Oncol. 2016 Jul 5;7(4):270–280. doi: 10.1016/j.jgo.2016.04.008

Table 4.

Selected studies on pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for CRCI that included older adults.

Study Design N Population Intervention group Comparison group Outcome
Lawrence et al., 201578 Randomized, double-
blind, placebo
controlled		 62 Patients with invasive breast cancer
who completed adjuvant
chemotherapy 1 to 5 years previously
and who reported significant
cognitive symptoms		 Median age 55.8 (range 41–78, 35% ≥ 60)
Donepazil 5 mg/day vs. placebo for
6 weeks, if tolerated 10 mg/day for
18 weeks		 Median age 55.8
(range 39.79,
43% ≥ 60)
Placebo		 Improvement in recall and
discrimination
O′Shaughnessy et al., 200592 Randomized, double-
blind, placebo
controlled		 100 Women ≥18 years of age diagnosed
with stage I, II, or III breast cancer
scheduled to receive 4 cycles of
anthracycline-based adjuvant or
neoadjuvant chemotherapy		 Mean age 53.3 (SD 9.7)
40,000 units of EPO weekly
throughout chemotherapy		 Mean age 54.3 (SD 12)
Placebo		 Prior to cycle 4 of chemotherapy,
executive functioning was improved
in EPO-treated group compared to
placebo but no difference was noted
at 6 months
Fan HG et al., 200893 Randomized, double-
blind, placebo
controlled		 57 Patients with fully resected early
breast cancer undergoing adjuvant
chemotherapy		 Median age 50 (range 36–73)
d-Methylphenidate 5–10 mg until the
end of chemotherapy		 Median age 51
(range 37–74)
Placebo		 No change in cognitive function
Kohli et al., 200979 Randomized, double-
blind, placebo
controlled		 82 Breast cancer patients who completed
chemotherapy for a month		 Mean age 22.1 (SD 22.7)
Modafinil 200 mg/day one-month
after chemotherapy and/or radiation
treatment		 Mean age 22.1
(SD 22.7)
Placebo		 Improvement in memory and
attention skills
Lundorff et al., 200985 Randomized, double-
blind, cross-over		 28 Advanced cancer patients treated in
palliative care settings		 Median age 62 (range 40–79)
Modafinil day 1 then cross-cover to
placebo on day 8, placebo day 1 then
cross-cover to modafinil on day 8		 NA Improvement in executive function
and motor speed
Oh B et al., 201284 Randomized trial 81 Cancer patients who had received or
undergoing chemotherapy		 Mean age 64.6 (SD 12.3)
Qigong (combination of gentle
exercise and meditation) for 10 weeks		 Mean age 61.1
(SD 11.0)
Usual care		 Improved cognitive function
Reid-Arndt et al., 201283 Before and after
intervention		 23 Cancer patients who had completed
chemotherapy at least 12 months		 Mean age 62.3 (SD 10.8)
Tai-chi 60-min class twice/week for
10 weeks		 NA Improvement in memory, verbal
fluency and attention
Kesler et al., 201380 Randomized, placebo
trial		 41 Breast cancer survivors (stage I–IIIA)
who on average completed
chemotherapy for 6 years		 Mean age 55 (SD 7)
Online executive training program for
12 weeks		 Mean age 56 (SD 6)
Waitlist		 Improvement in cognitive flexibility,
verbal fluency and processing speed
Ferguson et al., 201294 Randomized, double-
blind, placebo
controlled		 40 Stage I and II breast cancer who had
received adjuvant chemotherapy		 Mean age 51.2 (SD 7.3)
Cognitive behavioral therapy
(Memory and Attention Adaptation
Training)		 Mean age 49.4 (SD 5.1)
Waitlist		 Improvement in verbal memory
Janelsins et al., 201595 Randomized trial 328 Cancer survivors after adjuvant
treatment		 Mean age 55.2 (SD 11.0)
Standard care and YOCAS©® yoga—a
program of breathing, gentle Hatha and
restorative postures, and meditation		 Mean age 54.0 (SD 8.7)
Standard care		 Reduced patient-reported memory
difficulty