Journal of Cancer Treatment and Research

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Striking Regression of Temporal Lobe Necrosis Following Radiotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in a Clinical trial of Anti-Mycobacterium Therapy

Received: 30 August 2014    Accepted: 22 September 2014    Published: 30 September 2014
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Abstract

The mechanism of radiation-induced delayed brain injuries remains poorly understood, and few treatment options are available. The aim of this study was to investigate whether temporal lobe necrosis can be reversed by anti-mycobacterium therapy (AMT). We conducted this prospective, controlled study in southern China. Ten patients with symptomatic delayed radiation injury were monitored during AMT and compared with a control group of 11 patients who received current standard therapies. Activities of daily living were assessed by the Barthel Index (BI) at study entry and after 2 years of therapy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed before treatment, and changes were monitored during the study. Kaplan–Meier analysis was employed to delineate time-related mortality. A significant treatment effect was observed in the AMT group. The patients’ headaches, seizures, dizziness, and cognitive deterioration rapidly improved. BI improved in the AMT treatment group compared with the control group after 2 years (Mann–Whitney U test; P=0•001). Abnormalities of the temporal lobes, observed by MRI, markedly decreased over time in eight patients, whereas in the control group significant BI deterioration was observed (Wilcoxon signed-rank test; P=0•003) and the patients did not show favorable MRI changes. By 24 months, there was a significant difference between the AMT and control groups with respect to survival time (log-rank test; P=0•011). The results of the present study suggest that radiation necrosis of the brain can be successfully managed by AMT. These findings must be confirmed in large, double-blind, randomized clinical trials.

DOI 10.11648/j.jctr.20140205.12
Published in Journal of Cancer Treatment and Research (Volume 2, Issue 5, September 2014)
Page(s) 48-55
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Radiation-Induced Delayed Brain Injuries, Anti-Mycobacterium Therapy, Temporal Lobe Necrosis, Reverse

References
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    Yanqing Feng, Weixi Zhang, Xi Chen, Zhenhua Gao, Minying Zheng, et al. (2014). Striking Regression of Temporal Lobe Necrosis Following Radiotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in a Clinical trial of Anti-Mycobacterium Therapy. Journal of Cancer Treatment and Research, 2(5), 48-55. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jctr.20140205.12

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    ACS Style

    Yanqing Feng; Weixi Zhang; Xi Chen; Zhenhua Gao; Minying Zheng, et al. Striking Regression of Temporal Lobe Necrosis Following Radiotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in a Clinical trial of Anti-Mycobacterium Therapy. J. Cancer Treat. Res. 2014, 2(5), 48-55. doi: 10.11648/j.jctr.20140205.12

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    AMA Style

    Yanqing Feng, Weixi Zhang, Xi Chen, Zhenhua Gao, Minying Zheng, et al. Striking Regression of Temporal Lobe Necrosis Following Radiotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in a Clinical trial of Anti-Mycobacterium Therapy. J Cancer Treat Res. 2014;2(5):48-55. doi: 10.11648/j.jctr.20140205.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jctr.20140205.12,
      author = {Yanqing Feng and Weixi Zhang and Xi Chen and Zhenhua Gao and Minying Zheng and Ning Guo and Fan Huang and Ke Ma},
      title = {Striking Regression of Temporal Lobe Necrosis Following Radiotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in a Clinical trial of Anti-Mycobacterium Therapy},
      journal = {Journal of Cancer Treatment and Research},
      volume = {2},
      number = {5},
      pages = {48-55},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jctr.20140205.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jctr.20140205.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jctr.20140205.12},
      abstract = {The mechanism of radiation-induced delayed brain injuries remains poorly understood, and few treatment options are available. The aim of this study was to investigate whether temporal lobe necrosis can be reversed by anti-mycobacterium therapy (AMT). We conducted this prospective, controlled study in southern China. Ten patients with symptomatic delayed radiation injury were monitored during AMT and compared with a control group of 11 patients who received current standard therapies. Activities of daily living were assessed by the Barthel Index (BI) at study entry and after 2 years of therapy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed before treatment, and changes were monitored during the study. Kaplan–Meier analysis was employed to delineate time-related mortality. A significant treatment effect was observed in the AMT group. The patients’ headaches, seizures, dizziness, and cognitive deterioration rapidly improved. BI improved in the AMT treatment group compared with the control group after 2 years (Mann–Whitney U test; P=0•001). Abnormalities of the temporal lobes, observed by MRI, markedly decreased over time in eight patients, whereas in the control group significant BI deterioration was observed (Wilcoxon signed-rank test; P=0•003) and the patients did not show favorable MRI changes. By 24 months, there was a significant difference between the AMT and control groups with respect to survival time (log-rank test; P=0•011). The results of the present study suggest that radiation necrosis of the brain can be successfully managed by AMT. These findings must be confirmed in large, double-blind, randomized clinical trials.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Striking Regression of Temporal Lobe Necrosis Following Radiotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in a Clinical trial of Anti-Mycobacterium Therapy
    AU  - Yanqing Feng
    AU  - Weixi Zhang
    AU  - Xi Chen
    AU  - Zhenhua Gao
    AU  - Minying Zheng
    AU  - Ning Guo
    AU  - Fan Huang
    AU  - Ke Ma
    Y1  - 2014/09/30
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    T2  - Journal of Cancer Treatment and Research
    JF  - Journal of Cancer Treatment and Research
    JO  - Journal of Cancer Treatment and Research
    SP  - 48
    EP  - 55
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2376-7790
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jctr.20140205.12
    AB  - The mechanism of radiation-induced delayed brain injuries remains poorly understood, and few treatment options are available. The aim of this study was to investigate whether temporal lobe necrosis can be reversed by anti-mycobacterium therapy (AMT). We conducted this prospective, controlled study in southern China. Ten patients with symptomatic delayed radiation injury were monitored during AMT and compared with a control group of 11 patients who received current standard therapies. Activities of daily living were assessed by the Barthel Index (BI) at study entry and after 2 years of therapy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed before treatment, and changes were monitored during the study. Kaplan–Meier analysis was employed to delineate time-related mortality. A significant treatment effect was observed in the AMT group. The patients’ headaches, seizures, dizziness, and cognitive deterioration rapidly improved. BI improved in the AMT treatment group compared with the control group after 2 years (Mann–Whitney U test; P=0•001). Abnormalities of the temporal lobes, observed by MRI, markedly decreased over time in eight patients, whereas in the control group significant BI deterioration was observed (Wilcoxon signed-rank test; P=0•003) and the patients did not show favorable MRI changes. By 24 months, there was a significant difference between the AMT and control groups with respect to survival time (log-rank test; P=0•011). The results of the present study suggest that radiation necrosis of the brain can be successfully managed by AMT. These findings must be confirmed in large, double-blind, randomized clinical trials.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China

  • Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China

  • Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China

  • Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China

  • Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China

  • Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China

  • Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China

  • Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China

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