2062 Background: While neuro-oncology has seen global advances in high-tech diagnostics and treatments for brain tumors, these innovations often overlook the principles of the body's adaptive response. Stress acts as a nonspecific driver of cancer progression and is intensified by aggressive therapies. An alternative approach involves harnessing general nonspecific adaptive reactions (GNARs), which are governed by the brain's regulatory systems. These anti-stress GNARs — specifically the reactions of training, calm activation, and elevated activation — form the foundation of "activation therapy" and are considered essential in the comprehensive management of high-grade gliomas (HGG). In glioblastoma, tumor growth exacerbates cerebral hypoxia, leads to endothelial damage, and promotes thrombosis and perifocal edema. During radiation therapy (RT), edema is further aggravated as a deleterious side effect of ionizing radiation on brain tissue. This study aimed to investigate whether adjunctive activation transcranial magnetic therapy (ATMT) can mitigate edema development and improve treatment outcomes. Methods: Data from 50 patients with HGG were analyzed. Using simple randomization, patients were divided into two groups: the Main group (n=25) received standard treatment plus two courses of ATMT during the early postoperative period and during RT; the Control group (n=25) received standard treatment without ATMT. Each ATMT session consisted of two exposures. The first exposure was performed in the morning on the hypothalamic projection area using a frequency algorithm of 0.3 Hz (5 min) – 3 Hz (1 min) – 9 Hz (1 min) with a daily exponential change in induction (B) from 3 to 1 mT (device: "Gradient-4M"). The second exposure was performed 2.5–3 hours later using pulsed ATMT on the perifocal zone of the removed tumor bed with the same frequency algorithm at B=15 mT (device: "Neuro-MSD"). Results: In the early postoperative period (prior to RT), ATMT reduced the frequency of acute stress development by 3.4-fold compared to controls. After the completion of RT combined with ATMT, stress inhibition was observed 1.6 times more frequently than in the control group. The induction of a stable "reaction of calm activation" via ATMT contributed to a decrease in perifocal edema volume by an average of 3.75-fold, compared to 1.04-fold in the control group (p=0.0180). Regression of neurological symptoms after RT was noted in 92% of patients who received two courses of ATMT versus 68% in the control group (p=0.0391). Furthermore, the absence of cognitive impairment after RT was observed in 80% of ATMT patients compared to 24% in the control group (p=0.0002). Conclusions: The adjunctive use of ATMT improves treatment outcomes in patients with HGG by developing and maintaining anti-stress reactions as an alternative to surgical and radiation-induced stress, thereby improving the patients' quality of life.
Росторгуев et al. (Wed,) studied this question.