Liliane V. Pires

Early traits of metabolic syndrome in pediatric post-cancer survivors: outcomes in adolescents and young adults treated for childhood medulloblastoma

OBJECTIVE To analyze traits of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in medulloblastoma survivors. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Sixteen childhood medulloblastoma survivors aged 18.0 (4.4) years, with history of craniospinal radiation therapy (RT) were compared with nine control subjects matched by age, gender, and body mass index, according to fat distribution, metabolic and cardiovascular variables. RESULTS Medulloblastoma patients showed increases in waist circumference and its relationships (all p < 0.05), and HOMA1-IR (p = 0.006), which were modified by growth hormone (GH) secretion status. However, these increases were within normal range. CONCLUSIONS Adolescent and young adult survivors of medulloblastoma showed centripetal fat deposition and decreased insulin sensitivity, associated with GH status. Pediatric brain tumor survivors following RT should be monitored for the diagnosis of MetS traits predisposing to cardiovascular disease.