Abstract
Introduction
Non‐central nervous system cancer in childhood (non‐CNS CC) and its treatments pose a major threat to brain development, with implications for functional networks. Structural and functional alterations might underlie the cognitive late‐effects identified in survivors of non‐CNS CC. The present study evaluated resting‐state functional networks and their associations with cognition in a mixed sample of non‐CNS CC survivors (i.e., leukemia, lymphoma, and other non‐CNS solid tumors).
Methods
Forty‐three patients (off‐therapy for at least 1 year and aged 7–16 years) were compared with 43 healthy controls matched for age and sex. High‐resolution T1‐weighted structural magnetic resonance and resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging were acquired. Executive functions, attention, processing speed, and memory were assessed outside the scanner.
ResultsCognitive performance was within the normal range for both groups; however, patients after CNS‐directed therapy showed lower executive functions than controls. Seed‐based connectivity analyses revealed that patients exhibited stronger functional connectivity between fronto‐ and temporo‐parietal pathways and weaker connectivity between parietal‐cerebellar and temporal‐occipital pathways in the right hemisphere than controls. Functional hyperconnectivity was related to weaker memory performance in the patients' group.
ConclusionThese data suggest that even in the absence of brain tumors, non‐CNS CC and its treatment can lead to persistent cerebral alterations in resting‐state network connectivity.
Non‐central nervous system cancer in childhood (non‐CNS CC) and its treatments pose a major threat to brain development, with implications for functional networks. Structural and functional alterations might underlie the cognitive late‐effects identified in survivors of non‐CNS CC. The present study evaluated resting‐state functional networks and their associations with cognition in a mixed sample of non‐CNS CC survivors (i.e., leukemia, lymphoma, and other non‐CNS solid tumors).
Methods
Forty‐three patients (off‐therapy for at least 1 year and aged 7–16 years) were compared with 43 healthy controls matched for age and sex. High‐resolution T1‐weighted structural magnetic resonance and resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging were acquired. Executive functions, attention, processing speed, and memory were assessed outside the scanner.
ResultsCognitive performance was within the normal range for both groups; however, patients after CNS‐directed therapy showed lower executive functions than controls. Seed‐based connectivity analyses revealed that patients exhibited stronger functional connectivity between fronto‐ and temporo‐parietal pathways and weaker connectivity between parietal‐cerebellar and temporal‐occipital pathways in the right hemisphere than controls. Functional hyperconnectivity was related to weaker memory performance in the patients' group.
ConclusionThese data suggest that even in the absence of brain tumors, non‐CNS CC and its treatment can lead to persistent cerebral alterations in resting‐state network connectivity.
| Originalsprache | Englisch |
|---|---|
| Aufsatznummer | e01931 |
| Seitenumfang | 16 |
| Fachzeitschrift | Brain and Behavior |
| Jahrgang | 11 |
| Ausgabenummer | 1 |
| Frühes Online-Datum | 18 Nov. 2020 |
| DOIs | |
| Publikationsstatus | Veröffentlicht - Jan. 2021 |
Bibliographische Notiz
Funding Information:The authors thank all the children and adolescents as well as their parents for their participation. Furthermore, we would like to thank the Fondation Gaydoul, the Swiss Cancer Research Foundation (KFS‐3705‐08‐2015 and KFS‐4708‐02‐2019), the Dietmar Hopp Stiftung, and the Hans und Anneliese Swierstra Stiftung for their funding support. Additionally, we would like to thank the team of the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry and Susan Kaplan for her valuable help in editing this manuscript. Special thanks go to all the postgraduate students and the study assistants for their support in performing the assessments.
Systematik der Wissenschaftszweige 2012
- 301 Medizinisch-theoretische Wissenschaften, Pharmazie