ReviewNeurocognitive sequelae of childhood cancers and their treatment

Abstract

The present review will focus on the neurocognitive aspects of the medical treatment of childhood cancer by discussing current knowledge of brain damage among patients and how it is reflected in their cognitive abilities. It will direct these efforts toward the two most common forms of childhood cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and brain tumours. It will first provide the reader with a brief medical background followed by a review of the current literature. The literature review will provide an in-depth analysis of the types of cognitive impairments observed and known or suspected risk factors for impairments. Finally, the review will close with a section that discusses interventions with the potential to prevent or minimize cognitive deficits acquired in the course of cancer treatment as they impact on the quality of life of paediatric cancer survivors.

Neuro-cognitive sequelae of the treatment of brain tumors among children and adolescents, and the possibilities for neuro-rehabilitation with a case report

“…Faktori koji utiču na prirodu i težinu neurokognitivnih posledica koje imaju deca koja su lečena od različitih tumora CNS-a su: tip i lokalizacija tumora (manje analizirano u literaturi koja se odnosi na neuropsihološke posledice), specifičnost tretmana i kombinovanja modaliteta onkološkog lečenja [24], posthirurške komplikacije [25,26], radioterapija [1,10,27,28,29] i uzrast deteta tokom sprovođenja kombinovanog onkološkog lečenja [1,12,29]. Iako postoje različite vrste i lokalizacije tumora CNSa kod dece i mladih, u najvećem broju sprovedenih istraživanja za sve lokalizacije potvrđen je značajan deficit u opštem intelektualnom funkcionisanju [2,27,16,30].…”

“…Iako postoje različite vrste i lokalizacije tumora CNSa kod dece i mladih, u najvećem broju sprovedenih istraživanja za sve lokalizacije potvrđen je značajan deficit u opštem intelektualnom funkcionisanju [2,27,16,30]. Meta analiza 39 istraživanja koja su se bavila neurokognitivnim posledicama lečenja tumora CNS-a na dečijem i adolescentnom uzrastu je pokazala postojanje od srednjeg do visokog deficita u opštem IQ, verbalnom i neverbalnom IQ [10].…”

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: What Have We Learned About the Effects of This Disease and Its Treatment on the Nervous System?

“…Our recently-published work (Bota 2009) suggests that pathway targeted agents (such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors or proteasome inhibitors) might have in vitro a more favorable, neural stem-cell sparing profile than the classic DNAtargeted agents. Reversal of neuropsychological late effects has been attempted through cognitive remediation, and ecological manipulations of the classroom environment (Mulhern and Butler, 2004). These methods are based on the treatment of traumatic brain injuries, and have moderate success in the treatment of ALL survivors (Butler et al, 2008).…”

Health-related quality of life and emotional problems in children surviving brain tumor treatment: A descriptive study of 2 cohorts

“…Many survivors of childhood brain tumors experience neurologic and neuropsychological problems later in life due to brain damage from tumor invasion as well as treatment modalities and their side effects [3,4]. Radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy (ChT) negatively affect attention and memory capacities and have adverse influence on mental and physical functioning [3,5]. Also, age of presentation and location of the tumor in the brain are related to mental and physical functioning of childhood brain tumor survivors.…”

“…Currently in Europe, an overall 5-year survival rate of approximately 65% has been reached [1,2]. Many survivors of childhood brain tumors experience neurologic and neuropsychological problems later in life due to brain damage from tumor invasion as well as treatment modalities and their side effects [3,4]. Radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy (ChT) negatively affect attention and memory capacities and have adverse influence on mental and physical functioning [3,5].…”