Identifying cytokine predictors of cognitive functioning in breast cancer survivors up to 10 years post chemotherapy using machine learning.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to explore 13 cytokine predictors of chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) in breast cancer survivors (BCS) 6 months to 10 years after chemotherapy completion using a multivariate, non-parametric approach.

METHODS: Cross sectional data collection included completion of a survey, cognitive testing, and non-fasting blood from 66 participants. Data were analyzed using random forest regression to identify the most significant predictors for each of the cognitive test scores.

RESULTS: A different cytokine profile predicted each cognitive test. Adjusted R2 for each model ranged from 0.71-0.77 (p's < 9.50-10 ). The relationships between all the cytokine predictors and cognitive test scores were non-linear.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are unique to the field of CRCI and suggest non-linear cytokine specificity to neural networks underlying cognitive functions assessed in this study.