Radiotherapy and Its Impact on the Nervous System of Cancer Survivors

Abstract

<jats:sec> <jats:title>Background:</jats:title> <jats:p> Radiotherapy, used routinely for the treatment of nearly all brain tumors, but may lead to progressive and debilitating impairments of cognitive function. The growing evidence support radiation exposure to CNS disrupts diverse cognitive functions including learning, memory, processing speed, attention and executive functions.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Objective:</jats:title> <jats:p>The present review highlights the types of radiotherapy and the possible mechanisms of cognitive deficits and neurotoxicity following radiotherapy.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Method:</jats:title> <jats:p>The review summarizes the articles from Scopus, PubMed, and Web of science search engines. </jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Description:</jats:title> <jats:p> Radiation therapy uses high-powered x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells, with minimal damage to healthy cells. While radiotherapy has yielded relative success in the treatment of cancer, patients are often plagued with unwanted and even debilitating side effects from the treatment, which can lead to dose reduction or even cessation of treatment. Little is known about the underlying mechanisms responsible for the development of these behavioral toxicities; however, neuroinflammation is widely considered as one of the major mechanisms responsible for radiotherapyinduced toxicities.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusion:</jats:title> <jats:p>The present study reviews the different types of radiotherapy available for the treatment of various types of cancers and their associated neurological complications. It also summarizes the doses of radiations used in the variety of radiotherapy, and their early and delayed side effects. Special emphasis is given on the effects of various types of radiation on late side effects on cognitive impairments.</jats:p> </jats:sec>

Radiation-induced Desmoid Tumor Development in the Radiotherapy Field in a Child With Pineoblastoma: A Case Report

“…The pleasing event is that this rate has been further reduced with today's modern radiotherapy methods. 11,12 Although the incidence of radiotherapy-induced secondary malignancies is low, the difficulties in their treatment still remain a serious problem. [1][2][3] The radiotherapy-induced secondary malignancies are generally meningiomas, malignant gliomas, nerve sheath tumors, and sarcomas.…”

“…Although the overall incidence seems very low, there is an increased risk of secondary malignancies such as meningiomas, malignant gliomas, nerve sheath tumors, and sarcomas after a latent period following cranial irradiation. The pleasing event is that this rate has been further reduced with today’s modern radiotherapy methods 11,12 …”

Challenges and advances for glioma therapy based on inorganic nanoparticles

“…TMZ as the first-line chemotherapy drug for glioma, is prone to drug resistance [ 26 ]. Treatment by radiotherapy must be considered carefully, since severe or even irreversible damage to the CNS can be generated [ 27 ]. In addition, the presence of the BBB structure limits the implementation of most treatments.…”

Challenges and Perspectives of Standard Therapy and Drug Development in High-Grade Gliomas

“…GBM tumors subjected to hyperbaric oxygen displayed reversal/reduced radioresistance, chemoresistance, and radiation-enhanced tumor motility [147][148][149][150][151]. Radiation from radiotherapy can adversely affect the patients' neurocognitive ability [152][153][154]. Hence, the application of fractionated radiotherapy or interstitial brachytherapy is thought to be safer and well-tolerated among HGG patients [155][156][157][158][159].…”