With the rising number of children who survive invasive brain tumors such as medulloblastoma (MB) which is the second most common tumor type, cognitive sequelae of these neoplasms and their treatments have begun to receive increased attention. This attention is particularly focused on the extensive, long-term disabilities that these cognitive impairments pose for patients and their families. Studies indicate that anti- cancer treatments (chemotherapy and cranial radiation) increase the risk for long-term cognitive deficits in children and that these impairments are often progressive. The prospect of intervening to change this trajectory thus has tremendous significance from a lifespan perspective - potentially affecting school services, family dynamics, vocational readiness and social services support. However, factors mediating the risk for cognitive impairments in children with MB or other types of cancer have not been adequately explored. The overarching aim of this project is to use advanced, multi-modal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, focused genetic analyses and cognitive-behavioral assessment to elucidate the effects of MB and its treatments on functional neuroanatomy and cognitive-behavioral outcome.
The specific aims are 1) to examine the neuroanatomical and neurofunctional substrates of cognitive impairment and decline in children with MB, 2) elucidate neurobiologic factors subserving gender differences in cognitive outcome among children with MB, and 3) determine the interaction of genetic, demographic and medical variables in predicting the cognitive trajectory of children with MB. Forty children with MB and 30 age and gender matched healthy controls age 3-14 years will undergo comprehensive neuropsychological and neuroimaging assessments at baseline and 12 months. Additionally, DNA will be extracted from saliva samples from all subjects and genotyped for catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) which is believed to influence cognitive outcome in individuals with brain injury. The ultimate goal of this research is to inspire the development of more specific and precise interventions, as well as to better understand when intervention is most needed and most effective. The research proposed here also will contribute more broadly to a better understanding.

Public Health Relevance

: The ultimate goal of this research is to inspire the development of more specific and precise interventions for children with cancer, as well as to better understand when intervention is most needed and most effective. The research proposed here also will contribute more broadly to a better understanding of how early cancer- related brain injury affects brain development and neural organization in humans.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Academic/Teacher Award (ATA) (K07)
Project #
5K07CA134639-03
Application #
8098978
Study Section
Subcommittee G - Education (NCI)
Program Officer
Perkins, Susan N
Project Start
2009-08-01
Project End
2014-07-31
Budget Start
2011-08-01
Budget End
2012-07-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$166,958
Indirect Cost
Name
Stanford University
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
009214214
City
Stanford
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94305
Kesler, Shelli R; Gugel, Meike; Huston-Warren, Emily et al. (2016) Atypical Structural Connectome Organization and Cognitive Impairment in Young Survivors of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Brain Connect 6:273-82
Kesler, Shelli R; Gugel, Meike; Pritchard-Berman, Mika et al. (2014) Altered resting state functional connectivity in young survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Pediatr Blood Cancer 61:1295-9
Kesler, Shelli R; Watson, Christa; Koovakkattu, Della et al. (2013) Elevated prefrontal myo-inositol and choline following breast cancer chemotherapy. Brain Imaging Behav 7:501-10
Hosseini, S M Hadi; Kesler, Shelli R (2013) Comparing connectivity pattern and small-world organization between structural correlation and resting-state networks in healthy adults. Neuroimage 78:402-14
Kesler, Shelli; Janelsins, Michelle; Koovakkattu, Della et al. (2013) Reduced hippocampal volume and verbal memory performance associated with interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in chemotherapy-treated breast cancer survivors. Brain Behav Immun 30 Suppl:S109-16
Hosseini, S M Hadi; Kesler, Shelli R (2013) Influence of choice of null network on small-world parameters of structural correlation networks. PLoS One 8:e67354
Singh, Manpreet K; Kesler, Shelli R; Hadi Hosseini, S M et al. (2013) Anomalous gray matter structural networks in major depressive disorder. Biol Psychiatry 74:777-85
Hosseini, S M Hadi; Hoeft, Fumiko; Kesler, Shelli R (2012) GAT: a graph-theoretical analysis toolbox for analyzing between-group differences in large-scale structural and functional brain networks. PLoS One 7:e40709
Palesh, Oxana; Peppone, Luke; Innominato, Pasquale F et al. (2012) Prevalence, putative mechanisms, and current management of sleep problems during chemotherapy for cancer. Nat Sci Sleep 4:151-162
Palesh, Oxana G; Mustian, Karen M; Peppone, Luke J et al. (2012) Impact of paroxetine on sleep problems in 426 cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: a trial from the University of Rochester Cancer Center Community Clinical Oncology Program. Sleep Med 13:1184-90

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