A Study of How Proton Beam Radiotherapy Affects Brain Function and Quality of Life in Children and Young Adults Undergoing Treatment for a Brain Tumor

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Full Title

Neuroimaging Biomarkers of Impaired Neurocognitive Functioning After Cranial Proton Beam Radiotherapy for Treatment of Brain Tumors in Pediatric Patients

Purpose

Proton beam radiation therapy (PBRT) differs from conventional radiation therapy because it uses protons, rather than x-rays, to send beams of energy to a target while reducing the dose to nearby healthy tissue. Doctors want to collect more data on the effects of PBRT on the brain.

In this study, researchers are using a special imaging technique called resting state functional connectivity magnetic resonance imagining (rsfcMRI) to compare the brain networks (connections in the brain that are involved in certain functions, such as memory or attention) of patients ages 6-21 who will be having PBRT for a brain tumor and healthy individuals in the same age group. They will also check for differences in participants’ thinking and quality of life through a cognitive assessment and a questionnaire.

Memorial Sloan Kettering is seeking individuals ages 6-21 from outside the institution to serve as healthy participants in this study. Involvement in the study entails coming in for the MRI scan as well as completing the assessment and questionnaire. Study subjects will receive a $50 gift card for participating.

Who Can Join

To be eligible for this study, participants must meet several requirements, including:

  • Patients with brain tumors must be planning to have PBRT or have received it within the last 5 months.
  • Healthy individuals may not have any major medical illnesses.
  • This study is for people ages 6-21.

 

Contact

For more information about this study, please contact Dr. Kathryn Tringale at tringalk@mskcc.org.

Protocol

22-061

Investigator

ClinicalTrials.gov ID

NCT05288439