# Presentation: 143738

## Neurocognitive Sequelae of Pediatric Brain TumorsA Presentation to the FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and ResearchPediatric Oncology Subcommittee of the Oncologic Drug Advisory Committee

**Daniel Armstrong, Ph.D.**
**Department of Pediatrics**
**Mailman Center for Child Development**
**University of Miami Miller School of Medicine**
**and**
**Holtz Children’s Hospital at the University of Miami/Miller School of Medicine**

## Mechanisms of CNS Injury

**Genetics**
**Direct **
**Genetic Modifiers**
**Structural damage**
**Vascular injury: Large vessel, Microvascular**
**Neurotransmitter abnormalities (acute and chronic)**
**Metabolic abnormalities**
**Neuroendocrine abnormalities**
**Disruptions in development of **
**Myelin formation**
**Neural connections**
**Environmental and Learning Factors**

## Things Related to Neurocognitive Late Effects

**Tumor: Size & Location**
**Surgery and consequences of surgery**
**Radiation Therapy to the head**
**Chemotherapy**
**Age at time of treatment**
**Gender**
**Shunt, Seizures**
**CNS Infection**
**Other Considerations**
**Genetics and family history**
**Injury unrelated to cancer**
**Limited learning experiences**

## Cognitive and Adaptive Outcome in Low-Grade Pediatric Cerebellar Astrocytomas (CCG 9891/POG 9130)

- Beebe, Ris,Armstrong, Fontanesi, Mulhern, & Holmes, ( J. Clin. Oncol, 2005)

## Culprits

**Radiation Therapy & Chemotherapy**
**Damage to small blood vessels, resulting in calcification and potentially affecting brain metabolism and chemistry**
**Interference with normal brain growth and development**
**Myelin**
**Connecting structures**
**Sensory impairment**
**Hearing with Cysplatin & RT**
**Peripheral neuropathy (VCR)**

## Long-term Cognitive Outcomes in Low Risk Medulloblastoma

*POG 8631: Standard vs. Reduced Dose Cranial Radiation Therapy*

- Mulhern, Kepner, Thomas, Armstrong, Friedman, & Kun, _*J Clin Oncol*_, 1999

## Long-term Cognitive Outcomes in Low Risk Medulloblastoma

*POG 8631: Standard vs. Reduced Dose Cranial Radiation Therapy*

- Mulhern, Kepner, Thomas, Armstrong, Friedman, & Kun, _*J Clin Oncol*_, 1999*.*

## Treatment Factors Associated with Outcomes

**Neurosurgery**
**Focal Deficit (include sensory, motor impairment**
**Bleed**
**Posterior Fossa Syndrome (primarily medulloblastoma)**
**Mutism**
**Motor weakness/impairment**

## Treatment Factors Associated with  Outcomes

**Radiation Therapy**
**Method of delivery**
**Whole Brain, Hyper-fractionated, Stereotactic**
**Dose**
**Portal**
**Possible Outcomes**
**Significant global intellectual impairment**
**Specific impairment of functions developmentally in the RT field**

## Treatment Factors Associated with  Outcomes

**Chemotherapy**
**Vincristine- **
**Acute motor speed and coordination**
**Anti-angiogenesis chemo (e.g., thalidomide)**
**Possible effects on memory, attention, processing speed**
**Methotrexate (primarily used in ALL; now considered for CNS protocols)**
**Breakdown in folate pathway**
**Calcification**
**White matter abnormality**
**Cisplatin/Carboplatin**
**Hearing loss**
**Cyclophosphamide, Etoposide, other New Agents**
**Unknown...little experience without RT**

## Neruodevelopmental Model of Neurocognitive Late Effects

- Treatment seems to have its greatest effect on the part of the brain that develops after treatment.  The parts of the brain that have developed before treatment seem to be relatively safe.

## Emerging Cognitive Deficits: Developmental Patterns

- 1

- 2

- 3

- 4

- 5

- 6

- 7

- 8

- 9

- Gross Motor Skills

- Language Skills

- Attention

- Fine Motor Skills

- Visual-Spatial Motor Skills

## Basic Tenets of a Neurodevelopmental  Model of Neurocognitive Late Effects

**The evaluation of the functional ability is influenced by:**
**The timing of the treatment disruption in the normal developmental course**
**The complexity of the mechanism(s) involved (e.g., dose of radiation, types of chemotherapy). **
**The age of the child at the time of assessment (expected developmental abilities-time since treatment)**

## Emerging Cognitive Deficits: Developmental Patterns

- 1

- 2

- 3

- 4

- 5

- 6

- 7

- 8

- 9

- Gross Motor Skills

- Language Skills

- Attention

- Fine Motor Skills

- Visual-Spatial Motor Skills

## Common Late/Emerging Effects

**Slow Processing Speed**
**Attention Difficulties **
**Not hyperactive**
**Memory Difficulties**
**Visual**
**Sequential**
**Fine Motor Coordination and Speed**
**Planning, Organization, Executive Function Difficulties**

**Visual-Spatial-Motor Integration Difficulties**
**Mathematics Difficulties (calculation, not application)**
**Reading Difficulties (comprehension)**
**Social Difficulties**
**Processing Speed**
**Social Cue Detection**

## The Neurodevelopmental ModelTreatment-Academic Linkages

- Cranial
- Radiation

- Chemotherapy
- (MTX,
- Steroids)

- Surgery

- Interrupted
- Myelination

- Calcification

- Failure of
- Connecting
- Structure
- Development

- Processing
- Speed

- Visual
- Memory

- Visual-Motor
- Integration

- Attention &
- Concentration

- Organization
- & Planning

- Structural
- Damage

- Reading
- (Comprehension)

- Math
- (Calculations)

- Handwriting

- Shunt
- Seizure
- Genetics

- Sensory
- Impairment

- Other
- Impairment

## Prevention and Treatment of Neurocognitive Late Effects

**Education**
**Adjust Primary Therapy (e.g., Baby POG)**
**Identify neuroprotective medications**
**Cognitive Rehabilitation**
**Stimulant Medications; Other medications?- Risks with children**
**Compensatory Intervention/Assistive Technology & Accommodations**
**Targeted Early Intervention**