ICANSLEEP

Impact of sleep disturbances on cognitive deficits in breast cancer patients

Coordinator: Joy Perrier, Bénédicte Giffard

Background: Cognitive difficulties reported by women with breast cancer affect their quality of life. Beyond the known effects of treatment, insomnia could also be involved in these difficulties. Objective sleep measurements (polysomnography) are very rare in breast cancer, yet they are essential to understand the structure of sleep and its links with the daily difficulties of patients, in order to ultimately remedy them in an adapted manner. The study will provide accurate information to patients and clinicians about the role of sleep disorders on patients’ mental health. This programme will also make it possible to propose an innovative, non-invasive and targeted treatment of sleep disorders in breast cancer in order to promote the maintenance of cognitive functions and the well-being of patients.

Objectives: 1) caractériser les troubles du sommeil et leurs conséquences sur les aspects cognitifs et psychologiques avant et après chimiothérapie, et 2) réguler ces troubles du sommeil afin d’améliorer la qualité de vie des femmes.

Study methodology: Non-randomised longitudinal study comparing a group of patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy with a group of patients not treated with chemotherapy and a group of participants with no history of cancer. Inclusion has been completed for 123 patients.

Study status: currently being implemented

Collaboration: The ICANSLEEP study is carried out in collaboration with the François Baclesse Cancer Centre, the ANTICIPE research unit (UMR-S 1086 UNICAEN-INSERM), the DC2N research unit (UMR-S 1239 Université de Rouen Normandie-INSERM) and the COMETE research unit (UMR-S 1075 UNICAEN-INSERM)

Financial support: Normandy Region (Chair of Excellence, 2021 – 2024). The Normandy Region is funding the Chair through the RIN Research 2020. Doctoral grant (MESR)