A prospective behavioral and imaging study exploring the impact on long-term memory of radiotherapy delivered for a brain tumor in childhood and adolescence. (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baudou, Eloïse; Pariente, Jérémie; Péran, Patrice; Tensaouti, Fatima; Pollidoro, Lisa; Meligne, Déborah; Ducassou, Anne; Gros-Dagnac, Hélène; Arribarat, Germain; Desirat, Jean-Pierre; Bertozzi, Anne-Isabelle; Gambart, Marion; Larrieu-Ciron, Delphine; Barbolosi, Dominique; Muracciole, Xavier; Lemesle, Béatrice; Sevely, Annick; Roques, Margaux; Cazaux, Mathilde; Tallet, Jessica; Danna, Jeremy; Chaix, Yves; Laprie, Anne
• Is Part Of: Clinical and translational radiation oncology. Volume 33(2022)
• Page Start: 7
• Page End: 14
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: pCASL pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling -- 3DT1 T1-weighted imaging -- CMS Children's Memory Scale -- DFA discriminating factor analysis -- DTI diffusion tensor imaging -- IQ intellectual quotient -- MEM-III Wechsler Memory Scale -- NTCP normal tissue complication probability -- PFT posterior fossa tumor -- rs-fMRI resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging -- SRTT serial reaction time task -- TCP tumor control probability -- WAIS Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale -- WISC Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children; Memory -- Posterior fossa brain tumor -- Magnetic resonance imaging -- Spectroscopy -- Radiotherapy; Cancer -- Radiotherapy -- Periodicals; Oncology -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Radiotherapy; Oncology; Radiation Oncology; Neoplasms -- radiotherapy; Translational Medical Research; Periodicals; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.9940642
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ctro.2021.10.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2405-6308

Abstract

Highlights: Common long-term memory defects after pediatric brain tumor affect school achievement The hippocampi, the cerebellum and cerebellar-cortical networks play a role in several memory systems. This study will provide long-term neuropsychological data about four different memory systems. We will investigate the correlations between neuropsychological, neuroimaging and radiotherapy dose data. Imaging will be structural (3DT1), microstructural (DTI), functional (rs-fMRI), vascular (ASL) and metabolic (spectroscopy). Abstract: Background: Posterior fossa tumors represent two thirds of brain tumors in children. Although progress in treatment has improved survival rates over the past few years, long-term memory impairments in survivors are frequent and have an impact on academic achievement. The hippocampi, cerebellum and cerebellar-cortical networks play a role in several memory systems. They are affected not only by the location of the tumor itself and its surgical removal, but also by the supratentorial effects of complementary treatments, particularly radiotherapy. The IMPALA study will investigate the impact of irradiation doses on brain structures involved in memory, especially the hippocampi and cerebellum. Methods/design: In this single-center prospective behavioral and neuro-imaging study, 90 participants will be enrolled in three groups. The first two groups will include patients who underwent surgery for a posterior fossa brain tumor in childhood, who are considered to be cured, and who completed treatment at least 5 years earlier, either with radiotherapy (aggressive brain tumor; Group 1) or without (low-grade brain tumor; Group 2). Group 3 will include control participants matched with Group 1 for age, sex, and handedness. All participants will perform an extensive battery of neuropsychological tests, including an assessment of the main memory systems, and undergo multimodal 3 T MRI. The irradiation dose to the different brain structures involved in memory will be collected from the initial radiotherapy dosimetry. Discussion: This study will provide long-term neuropsychological data about four different memory systems (working memory, episodic memory, semantic memory, and procedural memory) and the cognitive functions (attention, language, executive functions) that can interfere with them, in order to better characterize memory deficits among the survivors of brain tumors. We will investigate the correlations between neuropsychological and neuroimaging data on the structural (3DT1), microstructural (DTI), functional (rs-fMRI), vascular (ASL) and metabolic (spectroscopy) impact of the tumor and irradiation dose. This study will thus inform the setting of dose constraints to spare regions linked to the development of cognitive and memory functions. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04324450, registered March 27, 2020, updated January 25th, 2021. Retrospectively registered, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04324450 .