1885P - Serum ATG5 protein may determine chemotherapy-related cognitive dysfunction in older patients with cancer

Background

It was aimed to determine the role of serum ATG5 protein and autophagy in determining cancer-related cognitive dysfunction.

Methods

Male and female patients over the age of 65, diagnosed with early-stage colon cancer, who were planned to receive adjuvant mFOLFOX6 treatment, were included. The control group was healthy individuals over the age of 65. Serum samples were taken from the patients before the treatment and at the 3rd month (9th month) after the completion of the 6-month treatment. ATG5 level was measured. Minimental state test was applied to the patients at the beginning and after 9 months. Minimental state test and serum ATG5 measurement were performed once in the control group.The difference in ATG5 level before and after treatment was analyzed by group comparison according to whether cognitive dysfunction developed or not.

Results

The study group consisted of 34 people and the control group consisted of 24 people. No difference was detected in terms of age and gender (p = 0.345). The median age in the patients was 67 years (min-max: 65-69) and in the controls it was 67 years (min-max: 66-70). Pre-treatment serum ATG5 levels of the patients and controls No significant difference was detected between (p=0.745). There was no significant difference in serum ATG5 levels of all patients before and after treatment (p=0.196). Cognitive dysfunction was detected in 20 of the patients (20/34) at the follow-up after completion of chemotherapy. It was determined that there was a significant decrease in the serum ATG5 level after treatment in patients who developed cognitive dysfunction (p=0.0014). In the ROC analysis, when the cut-off value of the post-treatment serum ATG 5 level was taken as 2.14, it was determined that the sensitivity and specificity in indicating cognitive dysfunction was 86% and 37%. ATG5 level was an independent risk factor affecting cognitive dysfunction (OR 3.2 95% CI 1.74-6.96).

Conclusions

It was concluded that the post-treatment value of serum ATG5 level, an autophagy protein, may be a predictive biomarker in chemotherapy-related cognitive dysfunction.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

The authors.

Funding

Turkish Society of Medical Oncology.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.