Effect of lifestyle and dietary factors in the development of brain tumors

Chronic stress as an emerging risk factor for the development and progression of glioma

ABSTRACT

Gliomas tend to have a poor prognosis and are the most common primary malignant tumors of the central nervous system. Compared with patients with other cancers, glioma patients often suffer from increased levels of psychological stress, such as anxiety and fear. Chronic stress (CS) is thought to impact glioma profoundly. However, because of the complex mechanisms underlying CS and variability in individual tolerance, the role of CS in glioma remains unclear. This review suggests a new proposal to redivide the stress system into two parts. Neuronal activity is dominant upstream. Stress-signaling molecules produced by the neuroendocrine system are dominant downstream. We discuss the underlying molecular mechanisms by which CS impacts glioma. Potential pharmacological treatments are also summarized from the therapeutic perspective of CS.

Role of Mediterranean diet in the development and recurrence of meningiomas: a narrative review

Several studies through the years have proven how an unhealthy nutrition, physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and smoking represent relevant risk factors in cancer genesis. This study aims to provide an overview about the relationship between meningiomas and food assumption in the Mediterranean diet and whether it can be useful in meningioma prevention or it, somehow, can prevent their recurrence. The authors performed a wide literature search in PubMed and Scopus databases investigating the presence of a correlation between Mediterranean diet and meningiomas. The following MeSH and free text terms were used: "Meningiomas" AND "Diet" and "Brain tumors" AND "diet." Databases' search yielded a total of 749 articles. After duplicate removal, an abstract screening according to the eligibility criteria has been performed and 40 articles were selected. Thirty-one articles were excluded because they do not meet the inclusion criteria. Finally, a total of 9 articles were included in this review. It is widely established the key and protective role that a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet can have against tumorigenesis. Nevertheless, studies focusing exclusively on the Mediterranean diet are still lacking. Thus, multicentric and/or prospective, randomized studies are mandatory to better assess and determine the impact of food assumptions in meningioma involvement.

Do the indices of deprivation or smoking affect post-operative 1-year mortality in patients undergoing a craniotomy for a brain tumour in a public healthcare system?

OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine the 1-year survival following craniotomy for tumour resection in a public healthcare system and analyse the effect of indices of multiple deprivation (IMD) as well as smoking, alcohol, BMI, ASA grade and medical co-morbidities on post-operative morbidity and mortality.

METHODS

This is a retrospective, single-centre study in a high volume neurosurgical centre, over a 2-year period. All patients undergoing a craniotomy for a brain tumour were included. Data was collected from the neuro-oncology database and electronic patient records. Individual patient IMD data was obtained using their postcode from a national government database. Each English postcode being ranked from 1 to 32,844, with 1 being the most deprived and 32,844 the most affluent. Descriptive results are described along with further data analysis using multiple linear and logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

630 patients underwent an elective or urgent craniotomy for tumour. 10% of all patients underwent urgent surgery. 68% (95% CI: 64 to 71%) survived at least 1-year post-surgery. Our study found that social deprivation (IMD postcode rank) was not associated with mortality at 1 year after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Those from decile 1 had the lowest risk of death at 12 months for all tumour types (p = 0.0070). Previous smokers carried an increased risk of death at 12 months when compared with people who had never smoked RR 1.40 CI 1.10-1.78 (p = 0.006) but this risk was not evident in current smokers RR 0.92 CI 0.65-1.31 (p = 0.64). Increasing age and male gender were also found to be associated with higher mortality at 1 year (p =  < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In the UK despite the discrepancy in the health of the general population between the north and south, social deprivation does not appear to be detrimental to neurooncological outcomes although smoking status, advancing age and male sex are.

Depression and Quality of Life in Patients with Gliomas: A Narrative Review

In patients with gliomas, depression is a common complication that may cause severe psychological barriers and deteriorate the patient’s quality of life (QoL). Currently, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is the most commonly used tool to diagnose depression in patients with gliomas. Female sex, unmarried status, low education level, high tumor grade, and a history of mental illness may increase the risks of depression and depressive symptoms in patients with gliomas. The QoL of patients with gliomas can be directly reduced by depression. Therefore, the evaluation and intervention of mood disorders could improve the overall QoL of patients with gliomas. Antidepressant use has become a treatment strategy for patients with gliomas and comorbid depression. This narrative review summarizes the current issues related to depression in patients with gliomas, including the prevalence, risk factors, and diagnostic criteria of depression as well as changes in QoL caused by comorbid depression and antidepressant use. The purpose of this review is to guide clinicians to assess the psychological status of patients with gliomas and to provide clinicians and oncologists with a new treatment strategy to improve the prognosis of such patients.