Regulation of Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability by APOE Gene Polymorphism and Its Impact on Cognitive Function Post-Radiotherapy in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: an MRI Study

Launched by SUN YAT-SEN UNIVERSITY · Mar 11, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how a specific gene called the APOE gene affects brain health in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (a type of cancer that occurs in the throat) after they receive radiotherapy (a treatment that uses radiation to kill cancer cells). The researchers want to understand how differences in this gene can change the way the blood-brain barrier (a protective layer in the brain) functions and how this might lead to problems with thinking and memory after treatment. They will use advanced brain imaging techniques to look at changes in brain structure and function over time, helping to identify which patients might be at higher risk for cognitive issues following radiotherapy.

To participate in the trial, patients need to be newly diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and be between the ages of 20 and 60. They should not have received any prior cancer treatments or have other serious health conditions. Participants will undergo various brain scans before and after their radiotherapy to track changes and gather important information that could help improve care for future patients. This study aims to provide insights that could lead to better prevention and treatment strategies for cognitive problems related to cancer therapy.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Patients newly diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, pathologically confirmed, and who have not received anti - tumor treatments such as surgery, induction chemotherapy, or radiotherapy.
• • All patients are of Han ethnicity and right - handed. Patients are aged between 20 and 60 years old, with an educational level of junior high school or above.
• • The clinical stage of the included patients is AJCC 8th edition stage I - IVa, without distant metastasis, and patients are scheduled to receive intensity - modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) according to the clinical plan.
• • Patients have no other serious systemic diseases except nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
• • There is no intracranial invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Routine MRI examinations (including T1WI, T2WI, and FLAIR) are negative. The baseline basic cognitive assessment scales (MoCA and MMSE) before radiotherapy are normal.
• • Patients have no family history of mental illness. Patients have no history of neurological diseases or head trauma. After fully understanding the experimental content, the subjects agree to participate in this project and sign the informed consent form
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD) before being included. AD is diagnosed by psychiatrists according to the 9th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases, Clinical Modification (ICD - 9 - CM).
• • Patients with intracranial lesions detected by routine MRI examinations. Patients with contraindications to magnetic resonance examinations. Patients with concurrent other diseases. Patients with tumor recurrence who need re - radiotherapy, or those who cannot adhere to and complete IMRT treatment.
• • Left - handed or ambidextrous patients. Patients with a history of head trauma or mental/neurological diseases. Patients aged less than 20 or more than 60 years old. Patients with serious systemic diseases such as heart, lung, or kidney diseases.
• • Patients with diabetes or hypertension. Patients who cannot cooperate to complete the neurocognitive scale tests.