Brain Integrity in Survivors of Hodgkin Lymphoma Treated With Thoracic Radiation

Study Summary

While thoracic radiation therapy (TRT) has been a primary component in successful treatment of a variety of childhood and adult cancers, the exposure to this treatment has been associated with significant cardiovascular and pulmonary morbidity in long-term survivors. Within non-cancer populations, cardiovascular and pulmonary morbidity is associated with increased risk for cerebral vascular accidents (CVAs), accelerated brain atrophy and neurocognitive impairment. Patients with chronic heart disease demonstrate problems with attention, processing speed, memory, and executive functions. Chronic pulmonary disease also increases the risk of stroke, leukoencephalopathy, and neurocognitive impairment in non-cancer populations. The investigators propose to examine indices of brain integrity, including neurocognitive performance and brain MRI/MRA, in long-term adult survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) treated with thoracic radiation and no direct central nervous system therapy. OBJECTIVES: 1. To evaluate brain integrity in adult survivors of childhood HL treated with thoracic radiation therapy. 2. To identify therapeutic factors associated with brain integrity in adult survivors of childhood HL who are at risk for cardiac and pulmonary morbidity. 3. To examine associations between cardiac, vascular and pulmonary health and brain integrity in adult survivors of childhood HL treated with thoracic radiation.

Primary Outcome

To evaluate brain integrity in adult survivors of childhood cancer treated with thoracic radiation therapy. Two-sided two-sample t test will be conducted to compare the difference of neurocognitive impairment in area of sustained attention and memory in the HL survivors and matched controls.

Interventions

• OTHER Neurocognitive Evaluation
• OTHER Quantitative Brain Imaging
• OTHER Neurologic Evaluation
• OTHER Health Questionnaire
• OTHER Vascular Testing