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Longitudinal study of cognitive function in glioma patients treated with modern radiotherapy techniques and standard chemotherapy

Rydelius, Anna LU ; Lätt, Jimmy LU ; Kinhult, Sara LU ; Engelholm, Silke ; Van Westen, Danielle LU orcid ; Pihlsgård, Mats LU ; Bengzon, Johan LU ; Sundgren, Pia C. LU orcid and Lilja, Åsa LU (2020) In Acta Oncologica 59(9). p.1091-1097
Abstract

Introduction: Cognitive function is an important outcome measure in patients with brain tumor, providing information about the patient’s clinical situation, treatment effects and possible progressive disease. The aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate effects of the currently used radiation and chemotherapy treatment on cognitive function and to investigate associations between cognitive function at baseline and progression as well as overall survival. Methods: 32 patients newly diagnosed with malignant glioma were evaluated at baseline with CNS Vital Signs (CNS-VS), a computerized standardized neuropsychological test battery, prior to arc-based radiotherapy and concomitant chemotherapy with Temozolomide. CNS-VS measures the... (More)

Introduction: Cognitive function is an important outcome measure in patients with brain tumor, providing information about the patient’s clinical situation, treatment effects and possible progressive disease. The aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate effects of the currently used radiation and chemotherapy treatment on cognitive function and to investigate associations between cognitive function at baseline and progression as well as overall survival. Methods: 32 patients newly diagnosed with malignant glioma were evaluated at baseline with CNS Vital Signs (CNS-VS), a computerized standardized neuropsychological test battery, prior to arc-based radiotherapy and concomitant chemotherapy with Temozolomide. CNS-VS measures the cognitive functions known to be affected in patients with brain tumor, covering nine cognitive domains. Follow-up cognitive evaluations were performed in 26 patients after 3.5 months and in 13 patients 1 year after treatment start. Results: Overall cognitive scores were lower in the studied patient cohort at baseline compared to standardized domain scores. At 3.5 months follow-up cognitive functioning was slightly decreased, but only in 1/9 cognitive domains–visual memory–where significant changes were found compared to baseline test results. Similarly, at 12 months follow-up no significant changes in cognitive test results were seen compared to baseline examination, except for a decrease in the visual memory domain. In relation to early progression, the most significant cognitive deficits were dysfunctional visual memory and low executive functioning at baseline. Low executive function at baseline correlated most significantly with shorter overall survival. Conclusion: The present study suggests that the currently used arc-based radiotherapy and chemotherapy might affect cognitive function less negatively than previously described during treatment and in the first year after treatment in malignant glioma patients. In general, a high cognitive test score at baseline was associated with longer time to progression and with longer survival.

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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Acta Oncologica
volume
59
issue
9
pages
7 pages
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • pmid:32847475
  • scopus:85087022774
ISSN
0284-186X
DOI
10.1080/0284186X.2020.1778181
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9475bff0-f89d-42cf-bf85-c8559f8b7cd0
date added to LUP
2020-07-10 10:57:26
date last changed
2024-04-17 12:17:24
@article{9475bff0-f89d-42cf-bf85-c8559f8b7cd0,
  abstract     = {{<p>Introduction: Cognitive function is an important outcome measure in patients with brain tumor, providing information about the patient’s clinical situation, treatment effects and possible progressive disease. The aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate effects of the currently used radiation and chemotherapy treatment on cognitive function and to investigate associations between cognitive function at baseline and progression as well as overall survival. Methods: 32 patients newly diagnosed with malignant glioma were evaluated at baseline with CNS Vital Signs (CNS-VS), a computerized standardized neuropsychological test battery, prior to arc-based radiotherapy and concomitant chemotherapy with Temozolomide. CNS-VS measures the cognitive functions known to be affected in patients with brain tumor, covering nine cognitive domains. Follow-up cognitive evaluations were performed in 26 patients after 3.5 months and in 13 patients 1 year after treatment start. Results: Overall cognitive scores were lower in the studied patient cohort at baseline compared to standardized domain scores. At 3.5 months follow-up cognitive functioning was slightly decreased, but only in 1/9 cognitive domains–visual memory–where significant changes were found compared to baseline test results. Similarly, at 12 months follow-up no significant changes in cognitive test results were seen compared to baseline examination, except for a decrease in the visual memory domain. In relation to early progression, the most significant cognitive deficits were dysfunctional visual memory and low executive functioning at baseline. Low executive function at baseline correlated most significantly with shorter overall survival. Conclusion: The present study suggests that the currently used arc-based radiotherapy and chemotherapy might affect cognitive function less negatively than previously described during treatment and in the first year after treatment in malignant glioma patients. In general, a high cognitive test score at baseline was associated with longer time to progression and with longer survival.</p>}},
  author       = {{Rydelius, Anna and Lätt, Jimmy and Kinhult, Sara and Engelholm, Silke and Van Westen, Danielle and Pihlsgård, Mats and Bengzon, Johan and Sundgren, Pia C. and Lilja, Åsa}},
  issn         = {{0284-186X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  number       = {{9}},
  pages        = {{1091--1097}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Acta Oncologica}},
  title        = {{Longitudinal study of cognitive function in glioma patients treated with modern radiotherapy techniques and standard chemotherapy}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0284186X.2020.1778181}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/0284186X.2020.1778181}},
  volume       = {{59}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}