APPROACH
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Analysis of Proton vs. Photon Radiotherapy in Oligodendroglioma and Assessment of Cognitive Health
IRAS ID
306432
Contact name
Louise Murray
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN13390479
Duration of Study in the UK
12 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
We want to improve treatment for people diagnosed with oligodendroglioma (ODG).
ODG is a rare type of brain tumour, and many people continue to live for many years after diagnosis. The standard treatment for ODG involves surgery which will remove as much of the tumour as possible followed by radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy treatments. In the UK, standard radiotherapy treatment uses photon radiotherapy. This treatment is given as lots of small doses called fractions, usually on weekdays over 6 weeks. This is the best way to treat the tumour and minimise side effects in normal brain tissue. Sometimes, however, photon RT can cause long-term side effects in normal brain tissue. These side effects can develop many years after the treatment and may include memory problems or difficulties processing information. We call these sorts of problems ‘neurocognitive problems’. Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) is an alternative type of radiotherapy treatment. This treatment is also given on weekdays over 6 weeks. PBT can reduce the dose of RT delivered to normal brain tissue, including some of the parts of the brain that are involved in memory and processing information, and so we think PBT may cause fewer neurocognitive problems. This study will look at whether the lower doses to the normal brain tissue from PBT result in fewer long-term side-effects.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/NE/0232
Date of REC Opinion
30 Jan 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion