Proton versus x‑ray radiation: thinking, symptoms, and daily function after childhood brain tumor treatment
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-11403680 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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) | $19,727 |
| NIH project number | 3R01CA249988-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11403680 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with brain tumors who are scheduled to receive cranial radiation (proton or photon) and who can participate in neurocognitive testing and follow‑up visits are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Children who do not receive cranial radiation, who have non‑brain cancers, or who cannot complete follow‑up visits and testing are unlikely to benefit from this project.
What this research studies
You would be followed from the start of radiation through years of survivorship, with doctors and researchers tracking symptoms, side effects, thinking and memory, school and daily functioning at multiple visits. The team will compare outcomes for children who receive proton beam therapy versus conventional photon (x‑ray) therapy using a model‑based accelerated longitudinal cohort design. Tests will include symptom and toxicity checklists, standardized neurocognitive testing, and measures of functional independence over time. Data from medical records and scheduled study visits will be combined to see which radiation approach is linked with better long‑term functioning.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help doctors choose radiation approaches that reduce cognitive decline and symptom burden, improving long‑term quality of life for survivors.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies suggest proton therapy can limit dose to healthy brain tissue and may reduce cognitive late effects, but large, long‑term direct comparisons with photon therapy are still 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 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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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.
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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.