SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES

Improving Outcome for Patients with Brain Tumors

Patients with brain tumors are often treated with radiotherapy to the brain. Unfortunately, 20 to 50 percent of these patients experience a progressive dementia because of the effects of the radiation on normal brain tissue. Pioglitazone, a drug used in the treatment of diabetes, prevented the cognitive decline in rats that were given whole-brain irradiation. Pioglitazone was administered in the animals’ food from 3 days before irradiation to 4 or 54 weeks after irradiation. Treatment for 4 weeks after irradiation was as effective as treatment for 54 weeks. If pioglitazone treatment was not started until after irradiation, it was less effective. If similar results can be shown in brain cancer patients, it will greatly improve the quality of life of cancer survivors.

Zhao W, Payne V, Tommasi E, Diz DI, Hsu FC, Robbins ME. Administration of the peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonist pioglitazone during fractionated brain irradiation prevents radiation-induced cognitive impairment. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys2007:67;6–9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17189061