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Treatment of Radiation-Induced Cognitive Decline

  • Neuro-oncology (GJ Lesser, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Opinion statement

Radiation-induced cognitive decline in cancer survivors who have received brain radiotherapy is an insidious problem with worsening severity over time. Because of improved survival with modern therapies, an increasing number of long term survivors are affected with limited options for treatment once diagnosed. Recently there has been enthusiasm for evaluating new approaches to prevent the onset of radiation-induced cognitive decline. Clinical trials have assessed the role of pharmaceuticals such as memantine and donepezil in ameliorating the cognitive effects of brain irradiation. Radiosurgery, when clinically appropriate, allows for the avoidance or postponement of whole brain radiotherapy in some patients with brain metastases. Hippocampal-sparing intensity modulated radiotherapy has been proposed as a means of avoiding damage to regions of adult neurogenesis. Finally, cytoprotective agents are being investigated that target the molecular pathways that lead to brain injury and the resultant cognitive decline.

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Conflict of Interest

Glenn Lesser received speaker’s fees from Merck, research support for clinical trials from EMD Serono, Immunocellular Therapeutics, and from Celldex, and is the DSMB Chairman for Stemline, and Abbvie. Albert Attia, Brandi R. Page, and Michael Chan declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA

    Albert Attia MD

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA

    Brandi R. Page MD & Michael Chan MD

  3. Department of Medicine (Hematology and Oncology), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA

    Glenn J. Lesser MD

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  1. Albert Attia MD
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Correspondence to Michael Chan MD.

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Attia, A., Page, B.R., Lesser, G.J. et al. Treatment of Radiation-Induced Cognitive Decline. Curr. Treat. Options in Oncol. 15, 539–550 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11864-014-0307-3

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