How Cancer Harms the Developing Brain: Long-Term Outcomes in Pediatric Cancer Survivors

Benjamin I Siegel; Juliane Gust

doi:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2024.03.031

How Cancer Harms the Developing Brain: Long-Term Outcomes in Pediatric Cancer Survivors

Pediatr Neurol. 2024 Apr 8:156:91-98. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2024.03.031. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Benjamin I Siegel¹, Juliane Gust²

Affiliations

¹ Brain Tumor Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia; Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia.
² Department of Neurology, University of Washinton, Seattle, Washington; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle, Washington. Electronic address: juliane.gust@seattlechildrens.org.

PMID: 38735088
DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2024.03.031

Abstract

Survival rates for pediatric cancer are improving, resulting in a rising need to understand and address long-term sequelae. In this narrative review, we summarize the effects of cancer and its treatment on the developing brain, with a focus on neurocognitive function in leukemia and pediatric brain tumor survivors. We then discuss possible mechanisms of brain injury and management considerations.

Keywords: Brain tumor; Chemotherapy; Immunotherapy; Neurocognition; Neurotoxicity; Pediatric cancer; Radiotherapy.

Publication types

Review