Potential role of tryptophan catabolism in cancer-related cognitive impairment

Oncology may be the most rapidly expanding field in medicine, with several innovative diagnostic and therapeutic procedures appearing daily. Advances in oncology have improved the survival rate for patients with cancer and promoting quality of life is now one of the goals in the care of these patients. Patients face a variety of disease- and treatment-related side effects, including anorexia, nausea, vomiting, recurring infections, and sleep difficulties. Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is an overlooked clinical condition found in oncologic practice, particularly in patients with breast cancer. Although several potential mechanisms for CRCI have been hypothesized, to our knowledge, the exact mechanism is still unknown. Alterations in the tryptophan kynurenine pathway have been shown to impair cognitive skills in several mental illnesses. However, its possible function in CRCI has yet to be investigated. The aim of this was to examine the possible interactions between tryptophan catabolism and CRCI.