Predictive biomarkers of cognitive outcome in children who received radiation therapy

Whole Brain Radiation Therapy (WBRT) is often used to treat brain tumors, but it can cause memory and thinking problems in 40-50% of people who survive long-term. WBRT has been a key treatment for brain tumors that can’t be removed by surgery and for cancer that has spread to the brain. However, because it can harm the brain and cause cognitive issues, its use is still debated. Patients may struggle with short-term memory, remembering words, and overall intelligence. Understanding why these problems happen is crucial for developing ways to prevent them. In this project, we plan to analyze cerebrospinal fluid from patients with medulloblastoma or other brain tumors who have had WBRT. By examining the fluid’s biochemical makeup, we hope to find reliable indicators that can show a link between radiation and cognitive problems. These indicators could provide valuable insights into how radiation affects the brain.