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

NCT06881225 · Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 300

Last updated 2025-03-18

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

adiotherapy-induced cognitive dysfunction is a severe complication following radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Our previous studies have demonstrated that abnormalities in brain function and structural connectivity after radiotherapy play a significant role in the occurrence of radiation-induced cognitive dysfunction. However, the key risk factors and underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. Research has shown that increased blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability after radiotherapy is an important mechanism leading to cognitive dysfunction, and different APOE gene subtypes can regulate BBB permeability. Therefore, APOE gene polymorphisms are likely to influence post-radiotherapy vascular barrier permeability in NPC patients, thereby affecting their brain function and structural connectivity changes, and ultimately impacting their cognitive function.

This project aims to establish a longitudinal brain imaging database for NPC patients with different APOE genotypes before and after radiotherapy, based on previous research findings. The project will integrate dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MR), resting-state functional MRI (fMRI), and diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) techniques. By comparing DCE-derived metrics across different genotype groups, the study seeks to identify brain regions with BBB damage differences between APOE genotype groups before and after radiotherapy. Furthermore, it will investigate how BBB damage in these brain regions mediates functional and structural connectivity abnormalities, and their relationship with radiation-induced cognitive dysfunction. The goal is to clarify the neural regulation mechanism of APOE gene polymorphisms in radiation-induced cognitive dysfunction and to identify risk factors for radiation-induced cognitive dysfunction. This research will provide a theoretical basis and valuable reference for the individualized prevention and treatment of radiation-induced cognitive dysfunction.

Conditions

  • Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Interventions

OTHER

Using DCE-MRI, fMRI, and DSI, establish a longitudinal brain functional and structural imaging database for three groups of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients before and 18 months after radiotherapy.

1. Resting-state fMRI: Use the Gradient Echo Echo Planar Imaging (GRE-EPI) sequence with the following parameters: repetition time (TR) = 2000 ms, echo time (TE) = 30 ms, flip angle (FA) = 90°, slice thickness = 3.0 mm, slice spacing = 0.8 mm, field of view (FOV) = 240 mm × 240 mm, matrix = 128 × 128, in-plane resolution = 64 × 64, 39 axial slices scanned, 240 dynamic scans. 2. DSI: Use diffusion-sensitive imaging (DSI) with 64 diffusion directions, b-values of 0 and 1000 s/mm², TR = 3000 ms, TE = 64 ms, number of excitations (NEX) = 1, matrix = 112 × 112, FOV = 224 mm × 224 mm, slice thickness = 2 mm, no spacing between slices, full brain coverage, and 75 slices scanned. 3. Three-dimensional brain structural MRI: Sagittal data acquisition is performed with the following parameters: TR = 8.16 ms, TE = 3.18 ms, inversion time (TI) = 800 ms, flip angle (FA) = 8°, matrix = 256 × 256, FOV = 256 mm × 256 mm, voxel size = 1 mm × 1 mm × 1 mm, and 176 slices scanned.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Sun Yat-sen University

    lead OTHER

Eligibility

Min Age
20 Years
Max Age
60 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2024-01-01
Primary Completion
2024-12-31
Completion
2026-12-31

Countries

  • China

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06881225 on ClinicalTrials.gov