Altered Neuroretinal Tissue in Childhood Cancer Survivors: Data From the German CVSS Study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Oncology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) face long-term health risks.
• Ophthalmological late effects in CCS are not well understood.
• Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thinning can indicate neurological damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate pRNFL alterations in long-term CCS.
• To identify associations between pRNFL thickness and specific cancer types or treatments.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 1002 CCS (aged 23-48) and matched controls.
• pRNFL measurements using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.
• Analysis of cancer types, treatments, and their correlation with pRNFL thickness.

Main Results:

• CCS had significantly thinner pRNFL (3.38 µm) than controls (P < 0.0001).
• Thinner pRNFL observed in survivors of CNS tumors, leukemia, renal tumors, neuroblastoma, soft-tissue sarcoma, and bone tumors.
• Cranial radiation and platinum-based chemotherapy were linked to reduced pRNFL thickness.

Conclusions:

• Long-term CCS exhibit pRNFL thinning, particularly those with specific tumor types.
• Cranial radiation and platinum derivatives negatively impact pRNFL.
• Further research is needed to assess the risk of neurodegenerative eye diseases in CCS.