Proton versus X‑ray radiation: effects on thinking, symptoms, and daily function in children with brain tumors
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-11403684 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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) | $237,541 |
| NIH project number | 3R01CA249988-05S3 |
| Project ID | NIH-11403684 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with primary brain tumors who are receiving cranial radiation (proton or conventional photon/X‑ray) and can attend cognitive testing and follow‑up visits are the intended participants.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not receiving cranial radiation, adults, or children unable to complete follow‑up visits or neurocognitive testing are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
You would be followed from the start of radiation through long‑term survivorship to track symptoms, side effects, thinking skills, and daily function. Researchers will collect symptom and toxicity reports, give standard neurocognitive tests, and measure functional independence at multiple visits over time. The study uses a model‑based accelerated longitudinal cohort approach to compare children treated with proton beam radiation versus conventional photon (X‑ray) radiation. The goal is to see whether the more targeted dosing of proton therapy that spares healthy brain tissue links to fewer cognitive problems and better long‑term function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help clinicians choose radiation approaches that reduce cognitive side effects and improve daily functioning for pediatric brain tumor survivors.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show proton therapy can reduce dose to healthy brain tissue and may spare cognition, but long‑term, head‑to‑head comparisons with X‑ray therapy are limited.
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 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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Proton versus x‑ray brain radiation: effects on thinking, symptoms, and daily life in children
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.
-
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.