Proton versus x‑ray brain radiation: effects on thinking, symptoms, and daily life in children
Official title: Comparison of Symptom Burden/Toxicity, Neurocognitive Change, and Functional Outcomes in Pediatric Brain Tumor Patients Treated with Proton vs. Photon Radiotherapy.
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11177869 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Compares proton beam and conventional x‑ray brain radiation in children with brain tumors to find which approach leads to fewer side effects, better thinking skills, and improved daily functioning.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $922,431 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA249988-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11177869 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with brain tumors who are receiving or recently received cranial radiation (proton or photon) and who can complete follow‑up cognitive testing and functional assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Children without brain tumors, adults, or patients unable to complete scheduled cognitive tests or long‑term follow‑up are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
What this research studies
This project follows children with brain tumors from the start of radiation through long‑term survivorship to compare proton beam therapy (PBRT) with conventional x‑ray (photon) radiation. Doctors collect symptom and toxicity reports, give repeated cognitive tests, and measure everyday functioning at several scheduled visits. The study uses an accelerated longitudinal cohort design so children of different ages are followed over time to map changes in thinking and function more quickly. Results will directly compare symptom burden, neurocognitive trajectories, and functional independence between the two treatment types.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help reduce long‑term cognitive problems and improve day‑to‑day independence for childhood brain tumor survivors.
How similar studies have gone: Prior dosimetric and early clinical work suggests proton therapy can spare healthy brain tissue, but long‑term cognitive and functional advantages compared directly to photon therapy remain uncertain.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kahalley, Lisa Schum — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Kahalley, Lisa Schum
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Advanced brain imaging after proton therapy in kids with brain tumors
This project looks at how advanced 7T MRI imaging can show long-term blood vessel and brain changes in children who have had proton radiotherapy for brain tumors.
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Proton versus X‑ray radiation: effects on thinking, symptoms, and daily function in children with brain tumors
This project looks at how proton beam and conventional X‑ray radiation affect symptoms, thinking skills, and everyday functioning in children treated for brain tumors.
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Proton vs. x-ray brain radiation: effects on thinking, symptoms, and daily life in children with brain tumors
This project compares proton and traditional x‑ray brain radiation in children with brain tumors to find which approach better protects thinking skills, lowers symptom burden, and supports everyday functioning.
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Proton versus x‑ray radiation: thinking, symptoms, and daily function after childhood brain tumor treatment
This project compares whether proton radiation or standard x‑ray radiation leads to fewer symptoms, better thinking skills, and easier daily life for children treated for brain tumors.
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Pediatric brain tumor treatment with ultra-fast radiation therapy
A new approach uses ultra-high dose-rate radiation (FLASH) to treat childhood brain tumors in mouse models, aiming to reduce normal brain damage while keeping tumor control.
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Ultra-fast (FLASH) radiation to protect children’s brains during medulloblastoma treatment
This project sees if delivering radiation in an ultra-fast burst called FLASH can treat medulloblastoma in children while causing fewer long-term problems with thinking and brain blood vessels.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.