Radiotherapy contributes to cognitive decline in patients with brain tumours, according to a new study.

Glioma - a type of brain tumour - is a hard cancer to treat. Which is why a study from Vrije University Medical Centre, Amsterdam addresses some of the effects of existing treatments.

The team studied three groups - one had glioma, one had blood cancer, and the third were healthy controls. In the glioma group, some were treated with radiotherapy and some not. All were given a range of cognitive tests. Those with glioma performed worse than those with blood cancer who, in turn, did worse than the healthy controls. Within the glioma group, those who had been treated with radiotherapy did worst of all.

Not only does radiotherapy not offer any survival benefit, but it also contributes to cognitive decline, the researchers conclude. But the tumour itself is the main cause of cognitive problems. Better treatment approaches are needed in glioma - people with low grade tumours are unlikely to benefit from radiotherapy.

Source

Lancet 2nd November 2002