Memory and survival after microbeam radiation therapy.
BACKGROUND
Disturbances of memory function are frequently observed in patients with malignant brain tumours and as adverse effects after radiotherapy to the brain. Experiments in small animal models of malignant brain tumour using synchrotron-based microbeam radiation therapy (MRT) have shown a promising prolongation of survival times.


METHODS
Two animal models of malignant brain tumour were used to study survival and memory development after MRT. Thirteen days after implantation of tumour cells, animals were submitted to MRT either with or without adjuvant therapy (buthionine-SR-sulfoximine=BSO or glutamine). We used two orthogonal 1-cm wide arrays of 50 microplanar quasiparallel microbeams of 25 microm width and a center-to-center distance of about 200 microm, created by a multislit collimator, with a skin entrance dose of 350 Gy for each direction. Object recognition tests were performed at day 13 after tumour cell implantation and in monthly intervals up to 1 year after tumour cell implantation.


RESULTS
In both animal models, MRT with and without adjuvant therapy significantly increased survival times. BSO had detrimental effects on memory function early after therapy, while administration of glutamine resulted in improved memory.
Schültke
Elisabeth
E
University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada. e.schultke@usask.ca
Juurlink
Bernhard H J
BH
Ataelmannan
Khalid
K
Laissue
Jean
J
Blattmann
Hans
H
Bräuer-Krisch
Elke
E
Bravin
Alberto
A
Minczewska
Joanna
J
Crosbie
Jeffrey
J
Taherian
Hadi
H
Frangou
Evan
E
Wysokinsky
Tomasz
T
Chapman
L Dean
LD
Griebel
Robert
R
Fourney
Daryl
D
D000818:Animals; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005910:Glioma / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy / Q000009:adverse effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome