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Brenneman RJ, Gay HA, Christodouleas JP, Sargos P, Arora V, Fischer-Valuck B, Huang J, Knoche E, Pachynski R, Picus J, Reimers M, Roth B, Michalski JM, Baumann BC. Review: Brain Metastases in Bladder Cancer. Bladder Cancer 2020. [DOI: 10.3233/blc-200304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Nearly 50% of bladder cancer patients either present with metastatic disease or relapse distantly following initial local therapy. Prior to platinum-based chemotherapy, the incidence of bladder cancer central nervous system metastases was approximately 1%; however, their incidence has increased to 3–16% following definitive treatment as platinum-based regimens have changed the natural history of the disease. Bladder cancer brain metastases are generally managed similarly to those from more common malignancies such as non-small cell lung cancer, with surgery +/–adjuvant radiotherapy, or radiotherapy alone using stereotactic radiosurgery or whole brain radiotherapy. Limited data suggest that patients with inoperable urothelial carcinoma brain metastases who are not candidates for stereotactic radiosurgery may benefit from shorter whole brain radiation therapy courses compared to other histologies, but data is hypothesis-generating. Given improvements in the efficacy of systemic therapy and supportive care strategies for metastatic urothelial carcinoma translating in improved survival, the incidence of intracranial failures may increase. Immune checkpoint blockade therapy may benefit cisplatin-ineligible metastatic urothelial carcinoma patients as first-line therapy; however, the effectiveness of immune checkpoint blockade to treat central nervous system disease has not been established. In this review, we discuss the incidence and management of bladder cancer brain metastases and considerations regarding variations in management relative to more commonly encountered non-urothelial histologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randall J. Brenneman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Hiram A. Gay
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - John P. Christodouleas
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Paul Sargos
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Vivek Arora
- Division of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Jiayi Huang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Eric Knoche
- Division of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Russell Pachynski
- Division of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Joel Picus
- Division of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Melissa Reimers
- Division of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Bruce Roth
- Division of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jeff M. Michalski
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Brian C. Baumann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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2
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The Reintroduction of Radiotherapy Into the Integrated Management of Kidney Cancer. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 26:448-459. [PMID: 32947313 DOI: 10.1097/ppo.0000000000000475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has been increasing, with a moderate subgroup of individuals who later develop metastatic disease. Historically, metastatic RCC has been managed with systemic therapy because RCC was believed to be radioresistant. Local therapies, such as stereotactic body radiation therapy, also known as stereotactic ablative radiotherapy, which utilize focused high-dose-rate radiation delivered over a limited number of treatments, have been successful in controlling local disease and, in some cases, extending survival in patients with intracranial and extracranial metastatic RCC. Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy is highly effective in treating intact disease when patients are not surgical candidates. Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy is well tolerated when used in conjunction with systemic therapy such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors. These successes have prompted investigators to evaluate the efficacy of stereotactic body radiation therapy in novel settings such as neoadjuvant treatment of advanced RCC with tumor thrombus and oligometastatic/oligoprogressive disease states.
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Ibrahim H, Yaroko AA. Palliative external beam radiotherapy for advanced breast cancer patients with brain metastasis in the university college hospital Ibadan. Ann Afr Med 2020; 18:127-131. [PMID: 31417012 PMCID: PMC6704810 DOI: 10.4103/aam.aam_42_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Brain metastasis is a dreaded complication that significantly reduces the quality of life in breast cancer patients. The treatment options are limited by the inability of many chemotherapeutic agents to cross the blood-brain barrier. Surgery also has a limited role, except in few selected patients with oligometastasis. Therefore, whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) remains the available option that gives a gratifying result. However, the benefit of this treatment modality in our resource-poor environment needs to be investigated. Materials and Methods The data of breast cancer patients with brain metastasis who were treated with WBRT using cobalt-60 equipment between 2005 and 2009 were retrospectively collected from the departmental medical record unit. The information extracted included biodata, presenting symptoms, imaging modality for confirmation of brain metastasis, treatment records, performance status pre-WBRT and 4 weeks post-WBRT, and other supportive treatments. Results A total of 52 female patients were reviewed between 2005 and 2009. The mean age of patients was 44.7 years. The common clinical features on presentation were headache, nausea, and visual impairment in 30.8% of patients with the WHO performance status score ranging between 2 and 4. Patients with more than three brain deposits accounted for 71.2% of all the brain metastases. The mean radiation dose used for WBRT was 30 Gy in 10 fractions, and total responses recorded were 86.5% with 53.8% complete improvement in patients' performance status 4 weeks after WBRT treatment. Conclusion WBRT is an effective treatment modality for patients with brain metastasis in our resource-poor environment. However, improvement of patients' performance status declined with advancing age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Ibrahim
- Department of Radiation and Clinical Oncology, Usman Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, Sokoto, Nigeria
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Botturi M, Fariselli L. Clinical Results of Unconventional Fractionation Radiotherapy in Central Nervous System Tumors. TUMORI JOURNAL 2018; 84:176-87. [PMID: 9620243 DOI: 10.1177/030089169808400215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Malignant brain tumors (primary and metastatic) are apparently resistant to most therapeutic efforts. Several randomized trials have provided evidence supporting the efficacy of radiation therapy. Attempts at improving the results of external beam radiotherapy include altered fractionation, radiation sensitizers and concomitant chemotherapy. In low-grade gliomas, all clinical studies with radiotherapy have employed conventional dose fractionation regimens. In high-grade gliomas, hypofractionation schedules represent effective palliative regimens in poor prognosis subsets of patients; short-term survival in these patients has not allowed to evaluate late toxicity. In tumors arising within the central nervous system, hyperfractionated irradiation exploits the differences in repair capacity between tumour and late responding normal tissues. It may allow for higher total dose and may result in increased tumor cell kill. Accelerated radiotherapy may reduce the repopulation of tumor cells between fractions. It may potentially improve tumor control for a given dose level, provided that there is no increase in late normal tissue injury. In supratentorial malignant gliomas, superiority of accelerated hyperfractionated over conventionally fractionated schedules was observed in a randomized trial; however, the gain in survival was less than 6 months. At present no other randomized trial supports the preferential choice for altered fractionation irradiation. Also in pediatric brainstem tumors there are no data to confirm the routine use of hyperfractionated irradiation, and significant late sequelae have been reported in the few long-term survivors. Shorter treatment courses with accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy may represent a useful alternative to conventional irradiation for the palliation of brain metastases. Different considerations have been proposed to explain this gap between theory and clinical data. Patients included in dose/effect studies are not stratified by prognostic factors and other treatment-related parameters. This observation precludes any definite conclusion about the relative role of conventional and of altered fractionation. New approaches are currently in progress. More prolonged radiation treatments, up to higher total doses, could delay time to tumor progression and improve survival in good prognosis subsets of patients; altered fractionation may be an effective therapeutic tool to achieve this goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Botturi
- Radiotherapy Department, Ospedale Niguarda Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy
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Tsao MN, Xu W, Wong RKS, Lloyd N, Laperriere N, Sahgal A, Rakovitch E, Chow E. Whole brain radiotherapy for the treatment of newly diagnosed multiple brain metastases. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018; 1:CD003869. [PMID: 29365347 PMCID: PMC6491334 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd003869.pub4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This is an update to the review published in the Cochrane Library (2012, Issue 4).It is estimated that 20% to 40% of people with cancer will develop brain metastases during the course of their illness. The burden of brain metastases impacts quality and length of survival. OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness and adverse effects of whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) given alone or in combination with other therapies to adults with newly diagnosed multiple brain metastases. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, and Embase to May 2017 and the National Cancer Institute Physicians Data Query for ongoing trials. SELECTION CRITERIA We included phase III randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing WBRT versus other treatments for adults with newly diagnosed multiple brain metastases. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently assessed trial quality and abstracted information in accordance with Cochrane methods. MAIN RESULTS We added 10 RCTs to this updated review. The review now includes 54 published trials (45 fully published reports, four abstracts, and five subsets of data from previously published RCTs) involving 11,898 participants.Lower biological WBRT doses versus controlThe hazard ratio (HR) for overall survival (OS) with lower biological WBRT doses as compared with control (3000 cGy in 10 daily fractions) was 1.21 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04 to 1.40; P = 0.01; moderate-certainty evidence) in favour of control. The HR for neurological function improvement (NFI) was 1.74 (95% CI 1.06 to 2.84; P = 0.03; moderate-certainty evidence) in favour of control fractionation.Higher biological WBRT doses versus controlThe HR for OS with higher biological WBRT doses as compared with control (3000 cGy in 10 daily fractions) was 0.97 (95% CI 0.83 to 1.12; P = 0.65; moderate-certainty evidence). The HR for NFI was 1.14 (95% CI 0.92 to 1.42; P = 0.23; moderate-certainty evidence).WBRT and radiosensitisersThe addition of radiosensitisers to WBRT did not confer additional benefit for OS (HR 1.05, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.12; P = 0.12; moderate-certainty evidence) or for brain tumour response rates (odds ratio (OR) 0.84, 95% CI 0.63 to 1.11; P = 0.22; high-certainty evidence).Radiosurgery and WBRT versus WBRT aloneThe HR for OS with use of WBRT and radiosurgery boost as compared with WBRT alone for selected participants was 0.61 (95% CI 0.27 to 1.39; P = 0.24; moderate-certainty evidence). For overall brain control at one year, the HR was 0.39 (95% CI 0.25 to 0.60; P < 0.0001; high-certainty evidence) favouring the WBRT and radiosurgery boost group.Radiosurgery alone versus radiosurgery and WBRTThe HR for local brain control was 2.73 (95% CI 1.87 to 3.99; P < 0.00001; high-certainty evidence)favouring the addition of WBRT to radiosurgery. The HR for distant brain control was 2.34 (95% CI 1.73 to 3.18; P < 0.00001; high-certainty evidence) favouring WBRT and radiosurgery. The HR for OS was 1.00 (95% CI 0.80 to 1.25; P = 0.99; moderate-certainty evidence). Two trials reported worse neurocognitive outcomes and one trial reported worse quality of life outcomes when WBRT was added to radiosurgery.We could not pool data from trials related to chemotherapy, optimal supportive care (OSC), molecular targeted agents, neurocognitive protective agents, and hippocampal sparing WBRT. However, one trial reported no differences in quality-adjusted life-years for selected participants with brain metastases from non-small-cell lung cancer randomised to OSC and WBRT versus OSC alone. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS None of the trials with altered higher biological WBRT dose-fractionation schemes reported benefit for OS, NFI, or symptom control compared with standard care. However, OS and NFI were worse for lower biological WBRT dose-fractionation schemes than for standard dose schedules.The addition of WBRT to radiosurgery improved local and distant brain control in selected people with brain metastases, but data show worse neurocognitive outcomes and no differences in OS.Selected people with multiple brain metastases from non-small-cell lung cancer may show no difference in OS when OSC is given and WBRT is omitted.Use of radiosensitisers, chemotherapy, or molecular targeted agents in conjunction with WBRT remains experimental.Further trials are needed to evaluate the use of neurocognitive protective agents and hippocampal sparing with WBRT. As well, future trials should examine homogeneous participants with brain metastases with focus on prognostic features and molecular markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- May N Tsao
- University of TorontoDepartment of Radiation Oncology2075 Bayview AvenueTorontoOntarioCanadaM4N 3M5
| | - Wei Xu
- University of TorontoDepartment of BiostatisticsUniversity Health NetworkTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Rebecca KS Wong
- Princess Margaret Cancer CentreDepartment of Radiation Oncology5th Floor, 610 University AvenueTorontoONCanadaM5G 2M9
| | - Nancy Lloyd
- McMaster UniversityDepartment of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics1280 Main Street WestCourthouse T‐27, 3rd FloorHamiltonOntarioCanadaL8S 4L8
| | - Normand Laperriere
- Princess Margaret Cancer CentreDepartment of Radiation Oncology5th Floor, 610 University AvenueTorontoONCanadaM5G 2M9
| | - Arjun Sahgal
- Odette Cancer CentreDepartment of Radiation OncologySunnybrook Health Sciences Centre2075 Bayview Avenue, T‐WingTorontoCanadaM4N 3M5
| | - Eileen Rakovitch
- Odette Cancer CentreDepartment of Radiation OncologySunnybrook Health Sciences Centre2075 Bayview Avenue, T‐WingTorontoCanadaM4N 3M5
| | - Edward Chow
- Odette Cancer CentreDepartment of Radiation OncologySunnybrook Health Sciences Centre2075 Bayview Avenue, T‐WingTorontoCanadaM4N 3M5
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Ulahannan D, Lee SM. Erlotinib plus concurrent whole-brain radiation therapy for non-small cell lung cancers patients with multiple brain metastases. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2016; 5:208-11. [PMID: 27186518 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr.2016.03.06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Sequencing of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene to identify mutations in lung adenocarcinomas is routine in clinical practice. The use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has transformed the management of patients with brain metastases harboring EGFR mutations, with improved response rates (RR) and survival. We evaluate the role of concurrent TKI therapy and radiotherapy in this group of patients, considering this data in the context of emerging concepts in this advancing field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny Ulahannan
- CRUK Lung Cancer of Excellence, UCL Cancer Institute, Paul O'Gorman Building, University College Hospital, London, UK
| | - Siow-Ming Lee
- CRUK Lung Cancer of Excellence, UCL Cancer Institute, Paul O'Gorman Building, University College Hospital, London, UK
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Refaat T, Sachdev S, Desai B, Bacchus I, Hatoum S, Lee P, Bloch O, Chandler JP, Kalapurakal J, Marymont MH. Brain metastases management paradigm shift: A case report and review of the literature. Mol Clin Oncol 2016; 4:487-491. [PMID: 27073647 PMCID: PMC4812354 DOI: 10.3892/mco.2016.772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain metastases are the most common intracranial tumors in adults, accounting for over half of all lesions. Whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) has been a cornerstone in the management of brain metastases for decades. Recently, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has been considered as a definitive or postoperative approach instead of WBRT, to minimize the risk of cognitive impairment that may be associated with WBRT. This is the case report of a 74-year-old female patient who was diagnosed with lung cancer in November, 2002, and histopathologically confirmed brain metastases in January, 2005. The patient received 5 treatments with Gamma Knife SRS for recurring brain metastases between 2005 and 2014. The patient remains highly functional, with stable intracranial disease at 10 years since first developing brain metastases, and with stable lung disease. Therefore, Gamma Knife SRS is a safe and effective treatment modality for patients with recurrent intracranial metastases, with durable local control and minimal cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamer Refaat
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 606611, USA; Department of Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21561, Egypt; Northwestern Medicine Developmental Therapeutics Institute (NMDTI), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 606611, USA
| | - Sean Sachdev
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 606611, USA
| | - Brijal Desai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 606611, USA
| | - Ian Bacchus
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 606611, USA
| | - Saleh Hatoum
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 606611, USA
| | - Plato Lee
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 606611, USA
| | - Orin Bloch
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 606611, USA
| | - James P Chandler
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 606611, USA
| | - John Kalapurakal
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 606611, USA
| | - Maryanne Hoffman Marymont
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 606611, USA
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8
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Lee SM, Lewanski CR, Counsell N, Ottensmeier C, Bates A, Patel N, Wadsworth C, Ngai Y, Hackshaw A, Faivre-Finn C. Randomized trial of erlotinib plus whole-brain radiotherapy for NSCLC patients with multiple brain metastases. J Natl Cancer Inst 2014; 106:dju151. [PMID: 25031274 PMCID: PMC4112798 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/dju151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2013] [Revised: 04/23/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Median survival of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with brain metastases is poor. We examined concurrent erlotinib and whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) followed by maintenance erlotinib in patients with untreated brain metastases, given the potential radiosensitizing properties of erlotinib and its direct effect on brain metastases and systemic activity. METHODS Eighty NSCLC patients with KPS of 70 and greater and multiple brain metastases were randomly assigned to placebo (n = 40) or erlotinib (100mg, n = 40) given concurrently with WBRT (20 Gy in 5 fractions). Following WBRT, patients continued with placebo or erlotinib (150 mg) until disease progression. The primary end point was neurological progression-free survival (nPFS); hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using Cox regression. All P values were two-sided. RESULTS Fifteen patients (37.5%) from each arm were alive and without neurological progression 2 months after WBRT. Median nPFS was 1.6 months in both arms; nPFS HR 0.95 (95% CI = 0.59 to 1.54; P = .84). Median overall survival (OS) was 2.9 and 3.4 months in the placebo and erlotinib arms; HR 0.95 (95% CI = 0.58 to 1.55; P = .83). The frequency of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations was low with only 1 of 35 (2.9%) patients with available samples had activating EGFR-mutations. Grade 3/4 adverse event rates were similar between the two groups (70.0% in each arm), except for rash 20.0% (erlotinib) vs 5.0% (placebo), and fatigue 17.5% vs 35.0%. No statistically significant quality of life differences were found. CONCLUSIONS Our study showed no advantage in nPFS or OS for concurrent erlotinib and WBRT followed by maintenance erlotinib in patients with predominantly EGFR wild-type NSCLC and multiple brain metastases compared to placebo. Future studies should focus on the role of erlotinib with or without WBRT in patients with EGFR mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siow Ming Lee
- Affiliations of authors: Department of Oncology, University College London (UCL) Cancer Institute and UCL Hospitals, London, UK (SML, NP); Department of Oncology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK (CRL); Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK (NC, CW, YN, AH); Department of Oncology, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK (CO, AB); Radiotherapy Related Research, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester (CFF), UK.
| | - Conrad R Lewanski
- Affiliations of authors: Department of Oncology, University College London (UCL) Cancer Institute and UCL Hospitals, London, UK (SML, NP); Department of Oncology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK (CRL); Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK (NC, CW, YN, AH); Department of Oncology, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK (CO, AB); Radiotherapy Related Research, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester (CFF), UK
| | - Nicholas Counsell
- Affiliations of authors: Department of Oncology, University College London (UCL) Cancer Institute and UCL Hospitals, London, UK (SML, NP); Department of Oncology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK (CRL); Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK (NC, CW, YN, AH); Department of Oncology, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK (CO, AB); Radiotherapy Related Research, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester (CFF), UK
| | - Christian Ottensmeier
- Affiliations of authors: Department of Oncology, University College London (UCL) Cancer Institute and UCL Hospitals, London, UK (SML, NP); Department of Oncology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK (CRL); Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK (NC, CW, YN, AH); Department of Oncology, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK (CO, AB); Radiotherapy Related Research, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester (CFF), UK
| | - Andrew Bates
- Affiliations of authors: Department of Oncology, University College London (UCL) Cancer Institute and UCL Hospitals, London, UK (SML, NP); Department of Oncology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK (CRL); Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK (NC, CW, YN, AH); Department of Oncology, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK (CO, AB); Radiotherapy Related Research, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester (CFF), UK
| | - Nirali Patel
- Affiliations of authors: Department of Oncology, University College London (UCL) Cancer Institute and UCL Hospitals, London, UK (SML, NP); Department of Oncology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK (CRL); Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK (NC, CW, YN, AH); Department of Oncology, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK (CO, AB); Radiotherapy Related Research, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester (CFF), UK
| | - Christina Wadsworth
- Affiliations of authors: Department of Oncology, University College London (UCL) Cancer Institute and UCL Hospitals, London, UK (SML, NP); Department of Oncology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK (CRL); Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK (NC, CW, YN, AH); Department of Oncology, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK (CO, AB); Radiotherapy Related Research, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester (CFF), UK
| | - Yenting Ngai
- Affiliations of authors: Department of Oncology, University College London (UCL) Cancer Institute and UCL Hospitals, London, UK (SML, NP); Department of Oncology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK (CRL); Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK (NC, CW, YN, AH); Department of Oncology, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK (CO, AB); Radiotherapy Related Research, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester (CFF), UK
| | - Allan Hackshaw
- Affiliations of authors: Department of Oncology, University College London (UCL) Cancer Institute and UCL Hospitals, London, UK (SML, NP); Department of Oncology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK (CRL); Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK (NC, CW, YN, AH); Department of Oncology, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK (CO, AB); Radiotherapy Related Research, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester (CFF), UK
| | - Corinne Faivre-Finn
- Affiliations of authors: Department of Oncology, University College London (UCL) Cancer Institute and UCL Hospitals, London, UK (SML, NP); Department of Oncology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK (CRL); Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK (NC, CW, YN, AH); Department of Oncology, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK (CO, AB); Radiotherapy Related Research, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester (CFF), UK
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Grønberg BH, Ciuleanu T, Fløtten Ø, Knuuttila A, Abel E, Langer SW, Krejcy K, Liepa AM, Munoz M, Hahka-Kemppinen M, Sundstrøm S. A placebo-controlled, randomized phase II study of maintenance enzastaurin following whole brain radiation therapy in the treatment of brain metastases from lung cancer. Lung Cancer 2012; 78:63-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2012.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2012] [Revised: 07/19/2012] [Accepted: 07/21/2012] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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Tsao MN, Lloyd N, Wong RKS, Chow E, Rakovitch E, Laperriere N, Xu W, Sahgal A. Whole brain radiotherapy for the treatment of newly diagnosed multiple brain metastases. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012; 2012:CD003869. [PMID: 22513917 PMCID: PMC6457607 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd003869.pub3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brain metastases represent a significant healthcare problem. It is estimated that 20% to 40% of patients with cancer will develop metastatic cancer to the brain during the course of their illness. The burden of brain metastases impacts on quality and length of survival. Presenting symptoms include headache (49%), focal weakness (30%), mental disturbances (32%), gait ataxia (21%), seizures (18%), speech difficulty (12%), visual disturbance (6%), sensory disturbance (6%) and limb ataxia (6%).Brain metastases may spread from any primary site. The most common primary site is the lung, followed by the breast then gastrointestinal sites. Eighty-five per cent of brain metastases are found in the cerebral hemispheres, 10% to 15% in the cerebellum and 1% to 3% in the brainstem. Brain radiotherapy is used to treat cancer participants who have brain metastases from various primary malignancies.This is an update to the original review published in Issue 3, 2006. OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness and adverse effects of whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) in adult participants with multiple metastases to the brain. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (Issue 3, 2011), MEDLINE and EMBASE to July 2011. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing WBRT either alone or with other treatments in adults with newly diagnosed multiple metastases to the brain from any primary cancer. Trials of prophylactic WBRT were excluded as well as trials that dealt with surgery or WBRT, or both, for the treatment of single brain metastasis. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently assessed trial quality and abstracted information. Adverse effects information was also collected from the trials. MAIN RESULTS Nine RCTs involving 1420 participants were added in this updated review. This updated review now includes a total of 39 trials involving 10,835 participants.Eight published reports (nine RCTs) showed no benefit of altered dose-fractionation schedules as compared to the control fractionation (3000 cGy in 10 fractions daily) of WBRT for overall survival. These studies also showed no improvement in symptom control nor neurologic improvement among the different dose-fractionation schemes as compared to 3000 cGy in 10 daily fractions of WBRT. This updated review includes two trials comparing 4000 cGy in 20 fractions given twice daily versus 2000 cGy in 4 or 5 daily fractions. Overall, there was no survival advantage (hazard ratio (HR) 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.89 to 1.56, P = 0.25) with the use of 4000 cGy in 20 fractions given twice daily compared to 2000 cGy in 4 or 5 daily fractions.The addition of radiosensitizers in six RCTs did not confer additional benefit to WBRT in either the overall survival times (HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.18, P = 0.11) or brain tumour response rates (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.60 to 1.26, P = 0.46).Two RCTs found no benefit in overall survival (HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.27 to 1.39, P = 0.24) with the use of WBRT and radiosurgery boost as compared to WBRT alone for selected participants with multiple brain metastases (up to four brain metastases). Overall, there was a statistically significant improvement in local brain control (HR 0.35, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.61, P = 0.0003) favouring the WBRT and radiosurgery boost arm. Only one trial of radiosurgery boost with WBRT reported an improved Karnofsky performance score outcome and improved ability to reduce the dexamethasone dose.In this updated review, a total of three RCTs reported on selected patients (with up to three or four brain metastases) treated with radiosurgery alone versus WBRT and radiosurgery. Based on two trials, there was no difference in overall survival (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.35, P = 0.88). The addition of WBRT when added to radiosurgery significantly improved locally treated brain metasatases control (HR 2.61, 95% CI 1.68 to 4.06, P < 0.0001) and distant brain control (HR 2.15, 95% CI 1.55 to 2.99, P < 0.00001). On the other hand, one trial concluded that patients treated with WBRT and radiosurgery boost were significantly more likely to show a decline in learning and memory function as compared to those treated with radiosurgery alone.One RCT examined the use of WBRT and prednisone versus prednisone alone and produced inconclusive results. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS None of the RCTs with altered WBRT dose-fractionation schemes as compared to standard (3000 cGy in 10 daily fractions or 2000 cGy in 4 or 5 daily fractions) found a benefit in terms of overall survival, neurologic function, or symptom control.The use of radiosensitizers or chemotherapy in conjunction with WBRT remains experimental.Radiosurgery boost with WBRT may improve local disease control in selected participants as compared to WBRT alone, although survival remains unchanged for participants with multiple brain metastases.This updated review now includes a total of three RCTs examining the use of radiosurgery alone versus WBRT and radiosurgery. The addition of WBRT to radiosurgery improves local and distant brain control but there is no difference in overall survival. Patients treated with radiosurgery alone were found to have better neurocognitive outcomes in one trial as compared to patients treated with WBRT and radiosurgery.The benefit of WBRT as compared to supportive care alone has not been studied in RCTs. It may be that supportive care alone, without WBRT, is appropriate for some participants, particularly those with advanced disease and poor performance status.
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Affiliation(s)
- May N Tsao
- Department ofRadiationOncology,OdetteCancerCentre,Toronto,Canada.
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Chargari C, Kaloshi G, Benouaich-Amiel A, Lahutte M, Hoang-Xuan K, Ricard D. Metastasi cerebrali. Neurologia 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/s1634-7072(12)62058-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
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Kirova YM, Chargari C, Mazeron JJ. Métastases cérébrales multiples d’un cancer du sein et leur prise en charge en radiothérapie : quelle est l’attitude thérapeutique la mieux adaptée ? Bull Cancer 2011; 98:409-415. [DOI: 10.1684/bdc.2011.1335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/30/2023]
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Association concomitante d’une irradiation encéphalique en totalité avec trastuzumab concomitant pour des métastases cérébrales d’un cancer du sein : questions et réponses Expérience de l’Institut Curie et revue de la littérature. Bull Cancer 2011; 98:425-32. [DOI: 10.1684/bdc.2011.1342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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Graham P, Bucci J, Browne L. Randomized Comparison of Whole Brain Radiotherapy, 20 Gy in Four Daily Fractions Versus 40 Gy in 20 Twice-Daily Fractions, for Brain Metastases. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2010; 77:648-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2009.05.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2009] [Revised: 05/24/2009] [Accepted: 05/26/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Komosinska K, Kepka L, Niwinska A, Pietrzak L, Wierzchowski M, Tyc-Szczepaniak D, Kaczmarczyk A, Bujko K. Prospective evaluation of the palliative effect of whole-brain radiotherapy in patients with brain metastases and poor performance status. Acta Oncol 2010; 49:382-8. [PMID: 20397770 DOI: 10.3109/02841860903352942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE The benefit of whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for RTOG RPA (Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Recursive Partitioning Analysis) class 3 patients with brain metastases is not well established. The aim of this study was to determine whether WBRT has any benefit in terms of symptoms palliation in such patients. Evaluation of patients' preferences for WBRT, changes in performance and neurological status were secondary aims. METHODS Ninety-one RTOG RPA class 3 patients were included. All patients received WBRT (20 Gy in 5 fractions) and were asked to complete a questionnaire about their symptoms before and one month after WBRT. The patient's symptom checklist comprised 17 items scored from 0 to 3; a higher score meant a greater symptom intensity. The mean scores at baseline and after treatment were compared. Karnofsky performance status (KPS) and neurological status before and one month after WBRT were also recorded. Patients were asked to express their preference as to the WBRT undergone. RESULTS Forty-three (47%) patients completed both symptom checklists. The mean scores on the symptom checklist were 18.21 and 21.09 at baseline and one month after WBRT, respectively (p = 0.02). The KPS was estimated after WBRT in 42 patients: 57% of patients improved, 26% worsened, and 17% did not change from the baseline KPS score (p = 0.06). Neurological status did not change from baseline to one month after WBRT (p = 0.44). Only 7% of respondents would not have consented to the WBRT undergone. CONCLUSION Our results challenge the palliative value of the WBRT in RPA class 3 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Komosinska
- Department of Radiation Oncology, M. Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland
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DEGRO Practical Guidelines for palliative radiotherapy of breast cancer patients: brain metastases and leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. Strahlenther Onkol 2010; 186:63-69. [PMID: 20127222 DOI: 10.1007/s00066-010-2100-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2009] [Accepted: 11/13/2009] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To provide recommendations for palliative treatment of brain metastases (BM) and leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LC) in breast cancer patients with specific emphasis on radiooncologic aspects. METHODS The breast cancer expert panel of the German Society of Radiation Oncology (DEGRO) performed a comprehensive survey of the literature comprising national and international guidelines, lately published randomized trials, and relevant retrospective analyses. The search included publications between 1995-2008 (PubMed and Guidelines International Network [G-I-N]). Recommendations were devised according to the panel's interpretation of the evidence referring to the criteria of EBM. RESULTS Aim of any treatment of BM and LC is to alleviate symptoms and improve neurologic deficits. Close interdisciplinary cooperation facilitates rapid diagnosis and onset of therapy, tailored to the individual and clinical situation. Treatment decisions for BM should be based on the allocation to three prognostic groups defined by recursive partitioning analysis (RPA). Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) is the strongest prognostic parameter. Together with the extent of the disease, KPS determines whether excision or radiosurgery/stereotactic radiotherapy is feasible and if exclusive or additional whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) is indicated. With adequate therapy, survival may be up to 3 years. For LC, treatment is mostly indicated for patients with positive cytology or in case of strongly indicative signs and symptoms. Radiotherapy (WBRT and involved-field irradiation of bulky spinal lesions) and chemotherapy (systemically or intrathecally applied methotrexate, thiotepa and cytarabine) are both effective and may prolong survival from several weeks to 4-6 months. CONCLUSION Radiotherapy is an effective tool for palliative treatment of BM and LC.
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Modern treatment of cerebral metastases: Integrated Medical LearningSM at CNS 2007. J Neurooncol 2009; 93:89-105. [DOI: 10.1007/s11060-009-9833-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2008] [Accepted: 02/23/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Guillamo JS, Emery E, Busson A, Lechapt-Zalcman E, Constans JM, Defer GL. [Current management of brain metastases]. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2008; 164:560-8. [PMID: 18565355 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2008.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2007] [Accepted: 03/20/2008] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cerebral metastases occur in 15 to 20% of cancers and their incidence is increasing. The majority occur at an advanced stage of the disease, but metastasis may be the inaugural sign of cancer. The aim of treatments, which are often palliative, is to preserve the neurological status of the patient with the best quality of life. STATE OF ART Corticosteroids are widely used for symptomatic palliation, requiring close monitoring and regular dose adaptation. Antiepileptic drugs should be given only for patients who have had a seizure. In case of multiple cerebral metastases occurring at an advanced stage of the disease, whole brain radiation is the most effective therapy for rapid symptom control. However, radiotherapy moderately improves overall survival, which often depends on the progression of disseminated systemic disease. On the contrary, surgery is indicated in case of a solitary metastasis, particularly when the patient is young (less than 65 years), with good general status (Karnofsky greater than 70), and when the systemic disease is under control. Radiosurgery offers an attractive alternative for these patients with good prognostic factors and a small number of cerebral metastases (< or = 4). PERSPECTIVES Chemotherapy, considered in the past as not effective, is taking on a more important place in patients with multiple nonthreatening metastases from chemosensitive cancers (breast, testes...). Radiosurgery and whole brain radiotherapy are complementary techniques. Their respective role in the management of multiple metastases (< 4) remains to be further investigated. CONCLUSIONS Therapeutic options are increasingly effective to improve the functional prognosis of patients with cerebral metastases. Ideally, a multidisciplinary assessment offers the best choice of therapeutic modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- J-S Guillamo
- Service de neurologie Dejerine, centre hospitalo-universitaire de Caen, avenue de la Côte-de-Nacre, 14033 Caen cedex, France.
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Barnes MM. Why aren't community radiation oncologists adhering to evidence-based guidelines? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/s1548-5315(11)70911-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Tsao MN, Lloyd N, Wong R, Chow E, Rakovitch E, Laperriere N. Whole brain radiotherapy for the treatment of multiple brain metastases. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2006:CD003869. [PMID: 16856022 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd003869.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brain radiotherapy is used to treat cancer patients who have brain metastases resulting from various primary malignancies. OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness and adverse effects of whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) in adult patients with multiple metastases to the brain. SEARCH STRATEGY CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library), MEDLINE, EMBASE, CANCERLIT, and CINAHL were searched. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which adult patients with multiple metastases to the brain from any primary cancer and treated with WBRT were included. Trials of prophylactic WBRT were excluded as well as trials that dealt with surgery or WBRT, or both, for the treatment of a single brain metastasis. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently abstracted information for each predetermined outcome: overall survival at six months, intracranial progression-free duration, local brain response, local brain control, quality of life, symptom control, neurological function, and the proportion of patients able to reduce the daily dexamethasone dose. Adverse effects were also collected. MAIN RESULTS Eight published reports (nine trials) showed no benefit of altered dose-fractionation schedules as compared to control fractionation (3000 cGy in 10 fractions) of WBRT on the probability of survival at six months. These studies also showed no difference in symptom control nor neurologic improvement among the different dose-fractionation schemes. The addition of radiosensitizers, in five RCTs, did not confer additional benefit to WBRT in either overall median survival times or brain tumor response rates. The addition of the radiosensitizer motexafin gadolinium did not improve quality of life nor time to neurologic progression overall. For the radiosensitizer misonidazole, there was no improvement in Karnofsky performance score outcomes. Three RCTs found no benefit in overall survival with the use of WBRT and a radiosurgery boost as compared to WBRT alone for selected patients with multiple brain metastases (up to four brain metastases). Overall, however, there was a statistically significant improvement in local brain control favoring the whole brain radiotherapy and radiosurgery boost arm. Only one trial of radiosurgery boost with WBRT reported an improved Karnofsky performance score outcome and improved ability to reduce dexamethasone dose. One RCT examined the use of WBRT and prednisone versus prednisone alone and produced inconclusive results. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS None of the RCTs with altered dose-fractionation schemes as compared to standard delivery (3000 cGy in ten fractions) found a benefit in terms of overall survival, neurologic function, or symptom control. The use of radiosensitizers or chemotherapy in conjunction with WBRT remains experimental. A radiosurgery boost with WBRT may improve local disease control in selected patients, although survival remains unchanged. The benefit of WBRT as compared to supportive care alone has not been studied in RCTs. It may be that supportive care alone, without WBRT, may be appropriate for some patients, particularly those with advanced disease and poor performance status.
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Affiliation(s)
- M N Tsao
- Toronto-Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre, Department of Radiation Oncology, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4N 3M5.
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Mandell L, Hilaris B, Sullivan M, Sundaresan N, Nori D, Kim JH, Martini N, Fuks Z. The treatment of single brain metastasis from non-oat cell lung: Carcinoma surgery and radiation. Versus radiation therapy alone. Cancer 2006. [DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(19860801)58:3<641::aid-cncr2820580308>3.0.co;2-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Pectasides D, Pectasides M, Economopoulos T. Brain Metastases from Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Review of the Literature. Oncologist 2006; 11:252-60. [PMID: 16549809 DOI: 10.1634/theoncologist.11-3-252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brain metastases from epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) are rare. This report is based on a review of the literature. METHODS AND RESULTS This review summarizes the incidence, clinical features, pathophysiology, and diagnostic evaluation of EOC. The section on current treatment includes a thorough evaluation of the literature, highlights controversies over treatment options, and provides insight into novel approaches. Current treatment options include surgical resection, whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT), stereotactic radiosurgery, and chemotherapy. Corticosteroids and anticonvulsant medications are commonly used for the palliation of mass effects and seizures, respectively. In the reviewed series, a better outcome was seen following surgical resection and WBRT with or without chemotherapy for solitary and resectable brain metastases. CONCLUSION The prognosis for patients with brain metastases from EOC is poor. A better outcome might be obtained using multimodality therapy. Because of the small number of patients included in the reported studies, multicenter clinical trials are needed for further investigation in order to critically evaluate the clear benefit of these treatment options in selected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Pectasides
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Propaedeutic, Oncology Section, Attikon University Hospital, 1 Rimini St, Haidari, Athens, Greece.
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Kondziolka D, Martin JJ, Flickinger JC, Friedland DM, Brufsky AM, Baar J, Agarwala S, Kirkwood JM, Lunsford LD. Long-term survivors after gamma knife radiosurgery for brain metastases. Cancer 2006; 104:2784-91. [PMID: 16288488 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.21545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stereotactic radiosurgery, with or without whole-brain radiation therapy, has become a valued management choice for patients with brain metastases, although their median survival remains limited. In patients who receive successful extracranial cancer care, patients who have controlled intracranial disease are living longer. The authors evaluated all brain metastasis in patients who lived for > or = 4 years after radiosurgery to determine clinical and treatment patterns potentially responsible for their outcome. METHODS Six hundred seventy-seven patients with brain metastases underwent 781 radiosurgery procedures between 1988 and 2000. Data from the entire series were reviewed; and, if patients had > or = 4 years of survival, then they were evaluated for information on brain and extracranial treatment, symptoms, imaging responses, need for further care, and management morbidity. These long-term survivors were compared with a cohort who lived for < 3 months after radiosurgery (n = 100 patients). RESULTS Forty-four patients (6.5%) survived for > 4 years after radiosurgery (mean, 69 mos with 16 patients still alive). The mean age at radiosurgery was 53 years (maximum age, 72 yrs), and the median Karnofsky performance score (KPS) was 90. The lung (n = 15 patients), breast (n = 9 patients), kidney (n = 7 patients), and skin (melanoma; n = 6 patients) were the most frequent primary sites. Two or more organ sites outside the brain were involved in 18 patients (41%), the primary tumor plus lymph nodes were involved in 10 patients (23%), only the primary tumor was involved in 9 patients (20%), and only brain disease was involved in 7 patients (16%), indicating that extended survival was possible even in patients with multiorgan disease. Serial imaging of 133 tumors showed that 99 tumors were smaller (74%), 22 tumors were unchanged (17%), and 12 tumors were larger (9%). Four patients had a permanent neurologic deficit after brain tumor management, and six patients underwent a resection after radiosurgery. Compared with the patients who had limited survival (< 3 mos), long-term survivors had a higher initial KPS (P = 0.01), fewer brain metastases (P = 0.04), and less extracranial disease (P < 0.00005). CONCLUSIONS Although the expected survival of patients with brain metastases may be limited, selected patients with effective intracranial and extracranial care for malignant disease can have prolonged, good-quality survival. The extent of extracranial disease at the time of radiosurgery was predictive of outcome, but this does not necessarily mean that patients cannot live for years if treatment is effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Kondziolka
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA 15213, USA.
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Hofland KF, Thougaard AV, Dejligbjerg M, Jensen LH, Kristjansen PEG, Rengtved P, Sehested M, Jensen PB. Combining Etoposide and Dexrazoxane Synergizes with Radiotherapy and Improves Survival in Mice with Central Nervous System Tumors. Clin Cancer Res 2005; 11:6722-9. [PMID: 16166453 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-05-0698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The treatment of patients with brain metastases is presently ineffective, but cerebral chemoradiotherapy using radiosensitizing agents seems promising. Etoposide targets topoisomerase II, resulting in lethal DNA breaks; such lesions may increase the effect of irradiation, which also depends on DNA damage. Coadministration of the topoisomerase II catalytic inhibitor dexrazoxane in mice allows for more than 3-fold higher dosing of etoposide. We hypothesized that dexrazoxane combined with escalated etoposide doses might improve the efficacy of cerebral radiotherapy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Mice with cerebrally inoculated Ehrlich ascites tumor (EHR2) cells were treated with combinations of etoposide + dexrazoxane + cerebral radiotherapy. Similar chemotherapy and radiation combinations were investigated by clonogenic assays using EHR2 cells, and by DNA double-strand break assay through quantification of phosphorylated histone H2AX (gammaH2AX). RESULTS Escalated etoposide dosing (90 mg/kg) combined with dexrazoxane (125 mg/kg) and cerebral radiotherapy (10 Gy x 1) increased the median survival by 60% (P = 0.001) without increased toxicity, suggesting that escalated etoposide levels may indeed represent a new strategy for improving radiotherapy. Interestingly, 125 mg/kg dexrazoxane combined with normal etoposide doses (34 mg/kg) also increased survival from radiotherapy, but only by 27% (P = 0.002). This indicates a direct dexrazoxane modulation of the combined effects of etoposide and radiation in brain tumors. Further, in vitro, concurrent dexrazoxane, etoposide, and irradiation significantly increased DNA double-strand breaks. CONCLUSION Combining etoposide (high or normal doses) and dexrazoxane synergizes with cerebral radiotherapy and significantly improves survival in mice with central nervous system tumors. This regimen may thus improve radiation therapy of central nervous system tumors.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use
- Blood-Brain Barrier/drug effects
- Blood-Brain Barrier/pathology
- Blood-Brain Barrier/radiation effects
- Central Nervous System Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Central Nervous System Neoplasms/pathology
- Central Nervous System Neoplasms/radiotherapy
- Combined Modality Therapy
- DNA Damage
- DNA, Neoplasm/drug effects
- DNA, Neoplasm/genetics
- DNA, Neoplasm/radiation effects
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
- Etoposide/administration & dosage
- Female
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred Strains
- Neoplasms, Experimental/drug therapy
- Neoplasms, Experimental/pathology
- Neoplasms, Experimental/radiotherapy
- Razoxane/administration & dosage
- Survival Analysis
- Time Factors
- Treatment Outcome
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
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Duchnowska R, Szczylik C. Central nervous system metastases in breast cancer patients administered trastuzumab. Cancer Treat Rev 2005; 31:312-8. [PMID: 15979804 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2005.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Amplification or over-expression of the HER2/neu receptor is present in 20-30% of invasive breast cancers and in 60% of intraductal breast carcinomas. Patients with HER2/neu gene aberrations have more aggressive disease, frequent disease recurrence and a shorter survival. Trastuzumab (herceptin) is a monoclonal antibody selectively directed against the HER2/neu receptor. The addition of trastuzumab to chemotherapy in HER2/neu-positive advanced breast cancer patients has increased complete and partial response rates, and prolonged time to progression and overall survival. However, a relatively common failure site in patients administered trastuzumab is the central nervous system (CNS). CNS metastases in these patients seem to develop despite responses achieved in extracerebral sites. This pattern of failure has mainly been attributed to the lack of trastuzumab penetration to the CNS owing to the high molecular weight (145 kDa) of this molecule. Additionally, increased risk of CNS relapse may be associated with improved systemic control of extracerebral metastases and prolonged survival without brain protection (a sanctuary site). Finally, it was postulated that HER2/neu over-expression and/or amplification might predispose to brain metastases. The aim of this article is to discuss the pathophysiology of this phenomenon and its clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Duchnowska
- Department of Oncology, Military Institute of Medicine, Ul. Szaserów 128, 00-909 Warsaw, Poland.
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Abstract
When should surgery be used? First, when there is a need to establish the diagnosis of metastatic cancer, particularly in patients who have no known primary lesion. Second, as an effective therapy in patients who have a single brain metastasis, symptomatic or recurrent metastases, or when a metastasis threatens hydrocephalus if treated with radiation alone. Surgery is probably more effective in relieving symptoms from metastases than other treatments,although formal proof of this is lacking. Stereotactic radiosurgery can replace resection when the metastases are smaller than 3 cm and symptoms can be controlled with an acceptable steroid dose. Location of larger lesions in the posterior fossa is a relative contraindication to radiosurgery. The best candidates for resection and radiosurgery are those who have good systemic control of the primary disease; older age is a relative contraindication to resection. Aggressive treatment of oligometastatic brain disease probably is underused in current U.S. practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fred G Barker
- Department of Surgery (Neurosurgery), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Tosoni A, Ermani M, Brandes AA. The pathogenesis and treatment of brain metastases: a comprehensive review. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2004; 52:199-215. [PMID: 15582786 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2004.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/27/2004] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain metastases are the most common intracranial tumors and their incidence is increasing. Untreated brain metastases are associated with a poor prognosis and a poor performance status. The role of surgery in the management of multiple brain metastases is still controversial. As more than 70% of patients have multiple metastases at the time of diagnosis, whole brain radiotherapy is the treatment of choice in most cases. Brain metastases are an ideal target for stereotactic radiosurgery, as they are better circumscribed than primary brain tumors. Currently, chemotherapy has a limited role in the treatment of most brain metastases. Several new therapies, with a good penetration through the blood brain barrier, such as temozolomide, have been used in brain metastases with different results depending on the histology of the primary tumor. A better understanding of the complex processes underlying the development of brain metastasis will enable us to develop more satisfactory targeted treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Tosoni
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Padova, Ospedale Busonera, Via Gattamelata 64, 35100 Padova, Italy
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Broadbent AM, Hruby G, Tin MM, Jackson M, Firth I. Survival following whole brain radiation treatment for cerebral metastases: an audit of 474 patients. Radiother Oncol 2004; 71:259-65. [PMID: 15172140 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2004.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2002] [Revised: 02/16/2004] [Accepted: 02/25/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE To report the outcome of patients with brain metastases from solid tumors treated with whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) in a single institution. Given the high proportion of melanoma patients, a secondary aim was to compare our outcomes for patients with melanoma to those with other cancers. PATIENTS AND METHODS A retrospective audit identified 474 patients treated between January 1983 and December 1999. Survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression modeling was used for multivariate analysis. RESULTS Four hundred and fifty nine patients have died from their disease. The median survival was 4.1 months for the whole group and 3.6 months for the 42% of patients with melanoma. The 1 and 2 year survival was 15 and 5%. Six patients lived beyond 5 years. 105 of 186 patients with a single brain metastasis underwent surgery plus WBRT, and 81 received WBRT alone. Median survival was 8 and 4 months, respectively, (P<0.0001). 30 Gy in 10 fractions was used more commonly in the early part of the study compared to 20 Gy in 5 fractions more recently. There was no difference in survival by time period. CONCLUSIONS The survival in this series was comparable to other studies. Performance status, resection, dose, and the presence of extracranial disease appeared to be significant prognostic factors. The survival for the large number of patients with melanoma did not differ from the rest of the cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Broadbent
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool 2170, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Systemic cancer is the second most common cause of death for adults in the United States. Twenty percent of these patients develop neurologic symptoms sometime during their illness. An apparent increase in the incidence of both systemic cancers and resulting brain metastases are posing an increasing challenge to health care providers. Neurologic complications lead to significant morbidity and mortality in these patients. Therefore, it is important to understand the current concepts of diagnosis and treatment of patients with brain metastases. REVIEW SUMMARY This review summarizes the epidemiology, clinical features, pathophysiology, and diagnostic evaluation of brain metastases. The section on current treatments is presented from the perspective of the three most common primary tumor locations along with the treatment approach to other metastatic tumors. This review includes a thorough evaluation of the literature, highlights controversies over treatment options, and provides insight into novel approaches currently under investigation. Clinical studies needed for further study are also discussed. CONCLUSIONS A clearer understanding of the pathophysiology of metastatic tumors and advances in diagnostic technology have paved the road to a better approach to treatment of brain metastases. Although no curative treatments are available to date, significant improvement in a patient's quality of life and life expectancy can be achieved with the available therapy. A better understanding of different primary cancers leading to brain metastases leads to a more effective treatment. More studies are needed to critically analyze the clear benefit of these treatment options in selected patients.
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Wilson D, Hiller L, Gray L, Grainger M, Stirling A, James N. The effect of biological effective dose on time to symptom progression in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol) 2004; 15:400-7. [PMID: 14570088 DOI: 10.1016/s0936-6555(03)00164-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Renal cell carcinoma is commonly thought to be a radioresistant malignancy. Retrospective studies report conflicting results on the effect of radiotherapy dose escalation on response and time to progression in symptomatic metastatic disease; studies using the linear quadratic model have used alpha/beta ratios that are inappropriate for slow growing tumours. We aim to describe our experience with palliative radiotherapy in this context, relating Biological Effective Dose to outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS From December 1995 to April 2001, 143 independent palliative radiotherapy treatments were delivered to 78 patients in a single institution. Retrospective data was obtained on the radiotherapy schedule used, symptom response and time to symptom progression. The biological effective dose (BED) was calculated using alpha/beta ratios of 3 and 7 Gy (BED3 and BED7). The Log-Rank test was used to assess any differences in time to progression, and the Cox Proportional Hazards analysis to determine prognostic factors of time to progression. RESULTS Overall symptomatic response rate was 73%, with most responses being partial (67%). Forty-three (38%) patients had symptomatic progression after a median follow-up of 425 days. BED (BED3 or BED7) was not significantly different across response types (complete, partial or no response; P=0.90 and 0.88, respectively) and was not predictive for time to symptomatic progression (P=0.99 for BED3 and P=0.70 for BED7). Patients with bone metastases received less total dose (P=0.001), less BED (BED3, P=0.0013, and BED7, P=0.0005) and had a significantly longer time to progression than other sites of metastases (hazard ratio (HR) 0.4; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.2-0.7; P=0.004). Initial treatment with interferon-alpha alone in patients presenting with metastatic disease, before palliative radiotherapy, was also associated with a shorter time to symptom progression (HR 4.6; 95% CI 1.5-14.1; P=0.007). On removal of these criteria, brain metastases became a significant predictor of progression time, with an HR of 2.5 (95% CI 1.0-5.9; P=0.05), showing an increased risk of progression with brain metastases compared with metastases elsewhere. Time from primary diagnosis to development of metastatic disease was not predictive of time to symptom progression (P=0.29). CONCLUSION Despite the widespread assumption that renal cell carcinoma is radioresistant, retrospective assessment showed high response rates to palliative radiotherapy. On the basis of our data, higher BED does not seem to be a predictor of response or of duration of response in the palliative treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Palliation of bone pain seems to be particularly durable compared with the palliation of symptoms at other sites of metastases. A trend for shorter duration of palliative effect of whole-brain radiotherapy was noted.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Wilson
- The Cancer Centre, University Hospital Birmingham, Queen Elizabeth Medical Center, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
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Herman MA, Tremont-Lukats I, Meyers CA, Trask DD, Froseth C, Renschler MF, Mehta MP. Neurocognitive and functional assessment of patients with brain metastases: a pilot study. Am J Clin Oncol 2003; 26:273-9. [PMID: 12796600 DOI: 10.1097/01.coc.0000020585.85901.7c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The outcome of patients with brain metastases is generally poor. Survival alone is not necessarily a good measure of clinical outcome. Measures of neurocognitive function and the impact of the disease and treatments on functional status also need to be considered. Although these parameters have been measured in patients with primary brain tumors, they have not been as thoroughly evaluated in patients with brain metastases. The Mini-Mental State Examination provides limited assessment of neurocognitive domains impaired in brain tumor patients. It is less sensitive to mild impairment, does not avoid memorized learning from repeat administration, and does not have validated alternative forms necessary for non-English speaking patients. To determine the feasibility of using a more comprehensive neurocognitive test battery, motor, verbal, executive, and daily functions were assessed in 30 patients with brain metastases. The test battery included the Hopkins Verbal Learning Tests, Controlled Oral Word Association Test, Grooved Pegboard Test, Trailmaking Tests A and B, and the Barthel Index. In this study, there was complete patient compliance, with average test completion time of 23 +/- 6 minutes. Despite high functional status, most patients demonstrated impairment in memory and fine motor domains. Neurocognitive test batteries can and should be used in patients with brain metastases enrolled in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary A Herman
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, Wisconsin 53792, USA
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Hasegawa T, Kondziolka D, Flickinger JC, Germanwala A, Lunsford LD. Brain metastases treated with radiosurgery alone: an alternative to whole brain radiotherapy? Neurosurgery 2003; 52:1318-26; discussion 1326. [PMID: 12762877 DOI: 10.1227/01.neu.0000064569.18914.de] [Citation(s) in RCA: 185] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2002] [Accepted: 01/28/2003] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) provides benefit for patients with brain metastases but may result in neurological toxicity for patients with extended survival times. Stereotactic radiosurgery in combination with WBRT has become an important approach, but the value of WBRT has been questioned. As an alternative to WBRT, we managed patients with stereotactic radiosurgery alone, evaluated patients' outcomes, and assessed prognostic factors for survival and tumor control. METHODS One hundred seventy-two patients with brain metastases were managed with radiosurgery alone. One hundred twenty-one patients were evaluable with follow-up imaging after radiosurgery. The median patient age was 60.5 years (age range, 16-86 yr). The mean marginal tumor dose and volume were 18.5 Gy (range, 11-22 Gy) and 4.4 ml (range, 0.1-24.9 ml). Eighty percent of patients had solitary tumors. RESULTS The overall median survival time was 8 months. The median survival time in patients with no evidence of primary tumor disease or stable disease was 13 and 11 months. The local tumor control rate was 87%. At 2 years, the rate of local control, remote brain control, and total intracranial control were 75, 41, and 27%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, advanced primary tumor status (P = 0.0003), older age (P = 0.008), lower Karnofsky Performance Scale score (P = 0.01), and malignant melanoma (P = 0.005) were significant for poorer survival. The median survival time was 28 months for patients younger than 60 years of age, with Karnofsky Performance Scale score of at least 90, and whose primary tumor status showed either no evidence of disease or stable disease. Tumor volume (P = 0.02) alone was significant for local tumor control, whereas no factor affected remote or intracranial tumor control. Eleven patients developed complications, six of which were persistent. Nineteen (16.5%) of 116 patients in whom the cause of death was obtained died as a result of causes related to brain metastasis. CONCLUSION Brain metastases were controlled well with radiosurgery alone as initial therapy. We advocate that WBRT should not be part of the initial treatment protocol for selected patients with one or two tumors with good control of their primary cancer, better Karnofsky Performance Scale score, and younger age, all of which are predictors of longer survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshinori Hasegawa
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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Abstract
The onset of intracranial metastases is a common development during the course of malignancy. The treatment of these patients represents a significant workload in any radiation oncology department. Much debate has occurred regarding the most appropriate fractionation schedules employed given the perception of limited life expectancy and symptomatic relief following cranial radiation. The aim of this study was to identify the spectrum of primary sites in patients developing intracranial metastases and to assess survival postradiation for the group overall and for selected subgroups. The records of 378 patients undergoing palliative cranial radiation in the years 1993-1998 at Sydney's Mater and Royal North Shore hospitals were analysed retrospectively. Major primary sites were lung (42%), breast (18%), colorectal (9%), melanoma (7%), and unknown primary (7%). Overall median survival post-treatment was 3 months. Lung cancer patients showed a median survival of 6 months, breast 5 months, colorectal 4 months and melanoma 3 months. Long-term survivors were noted with up to 15% of certain groups alive beyond 12 months and 2% alive at 24 months. Multivariate analysis revealed improved survival in patients undergoing resection, and those receiving higher dose radiation justifying a more aggressive approach in selected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip G Yuile
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Royal North Shore Hospital and The Mater Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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37
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Antonadou D, Paraskevaidis M, Sarris G, Coliarakis N, Economou I, Karageorgis P, Throuvalas N. Phase II randomized trial of temozolomide and concurrent radiotherapy in patients with brain metastases. J Clin Oncol 2002; 20:3644-50. [PMID: 12202665 DOI: 10.1200/jco.2002.04.140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 279] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of concurrent temozolomide and radiotherapy in patients with previously untreated brain metastases. PATIENTS AND METHODS Fifty-two patients with brain metastases from solid tumors were randomized to oral temozolomide (75 mg/m(2)/d) concurrent with 40-Gy fractionated conventional external-beam radiotherapy (2 Gy, 5 d/wk) for 4 weeks versus 40-Gy radiotherapy alone. The group receiving temozolomide and radiotherapy continued temozolomide therapy (200 mg/m(2)/d) for 5 days every 28 days for an additional six cycles. The primary end points were radiologic response and neurologic symptom evaluation. RESULTS The objective response rate was significantly (P =.017) improved in patients receiving temozolomide and radiotherapy versus radiotherapy alone. Among 24 patients assessable for response in the temozolomide group, 23 (96%) of 24 responded, including nine (38%) patients with a complete response and 14 (58%) patients with a partial response. With radiotherapy alone, 14 (67%) of 21 assessable patients responded, including seven (33%) complete responses and seven (33%) partial responses. There was marked neurologic improvement in the group receiving temozolomide, and the proportion of patients requiring corticosteroids 2 months after treatment was lower in the temozolomide group compared with radiotherapy alone (67% v 91%, respectively). Daily temozolomide concurrent with radiotherapy was generally well tolerated; however, grade >or= 2 nausea (48% v 13%, P =.13) and vomiting (32% v 0%, P =.004) were significantly increased in the temozolomide group. Hematologic toxicity was predictable and reversible. CONCLUSION Temozolomide is safe, and a significant improvement in response rate was observed when administered in combination with radiotherapy in patients with previously untreated brain metastases. A larger randomized trial is warranted to verify these results.
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Tsao MN, Chow E, Wong R, Rakovitch E, Laperriere N. Whole brain radiotherapy for the treatment of multiple brain metastases. THE COCHRANE DATABASE OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS 2002. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd003869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Bernardo G, Cuzzoni Q, Strada MR, Bernardo A, Brunetti G, Jedrychowska I, Pozzi U, Palumbo R. First-line chemotherapy with vinorelbine, gemcitabine, and carboplatin in the treatment of brain metastases from non-small-cell lung cancer: a phase II study. Cancer Invest 2002; 20:293-302. [PMID: 12025223 DOI: 10.1081/cnv-120001173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
On the basis of the hypothesis that responsiveness of brain metastases (BM) to chemotherapy is primarily determined by the chemosensitivity of primary tumor, rather than the ability of cytotoxic agents to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, we addressed the role of a new combination regimen with Vinorelbine (VNR), Gemcitabine (GEM), and Carboplatin (CBDCA) as a primary treatment modality in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with BM. Twenty-two consecutive chemotherapy-naïve patients with documented BM from NSCLC and at least 1 evaluable extracerebral lesion were enrolled in this phase II study. Vinorelbine (25 mg/m2) and GEM (1000 mg/m2) were given on day 1, combined with a fixed daily dose of CBDCA at AUC = 5.0 for three consecutive days. The cycle was repeated every three weeks in an outpatient setting. A total of 116 cycles was given (median 4, range 3-9 per patient). Specific evaluation of BM by contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan showed an overall response rate of 45% in 20 evaluable patients (95% confidence interval, 26-66%), with 3 (15%) complete and 6 (30%) partial remissions; in addition, three minor regressions, five disease stabilizations, and three progressions were found. Patients who responded for the brain also had a response at the extracerebral sites, and a benefit by a remission of symptoms and improvement of performance index was observed in 77% of the whole group. Median time to response was 10 weeks (range 6-12 weeks) and median response duration was 25 weeks (range 12-32 weeks). Median survival time was 33 weeks (range 18-62 + weeks) in the whole group and 48 weeks in responders (range 26-62 + weeks). The adopted schedule was well tolerated and easy to use in the outpatient setting, with good patient compliance. Our results, which are consistent with the study hypothesis, suggest that BM respond to chemotherapy in the same way as systemic disease and primary tumor, and further support the need for reconsideration of the role of chemotherapy in such a clinical setting. Controlled trials comparing chemotherapy with radiotherapy or concomitant sequential chemo-radiotherapy would be appropriate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Bernardo
- Service of Preventive Oncology, Fondazione S. Maugeri I.R.C.C.S., Via Ferrata 8, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
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40
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Abstract
In the past 15 years, significant advancement has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of brain metastases. The distinction between the management of single and multiple brain metastases is an important one. Although radiotherapy remains a mainstay of treatment, especially in multiple brain metastases, surgical resection and stereotactic radiosurgery also have their place in the management of selected patients. Rarely, interstitial radiation or chemotherapy also may be used to treat brain metastases in the setting of relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Arnold
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, Multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Program, Markey Cancer Center, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
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Marcou Y, Lindquist C, Adams C, Retsas S, Plowman PN. What is the optimal therapy of brain metastases? Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol) 2001; 13:105-11. [PMID: 11373870 DOI: 10.1053/clon.2001.9230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The conclusions of a symposium held in London in October 1999 and devoted to the optimal management of brain metastatic disease were: 1. Prognostic factors are: size and number of metastases (and the presence of mass effect); the status of the systemic cancer outside the central nervous system; performance/neurological status; the age of the patient; and the type of cancer. 2. Surgical management of the single, superficially located brain metastasis with symptomatic mass effect is recommended in good performance status patients. Many would follow this routinely by whole brain radiotherapy. 3. Whole brain radiotherapy is often not followed by durable control of the disease and carries morbidity; better management plans are required. In poor prognosis patients the delivery of radiotherapy may not always be indicated. 4. The current literature demonstrates that stereotactic radiosurgery can enhance the likelihood of sterilizing individual brain metastases compared with whole brain radiotherapy alone. 5. The results of questionnaire showed that the histological diagnosis and latency to onset made little difference to the opinion of neuroscience clinicians, who generally favoured stereotactic radiation therapy over whole brain radiotherapy (with or without a conventionally delivered boost) for all patients with less than four metastases. The opinions of oncologists differed. For bronchial and breast cancer patients, whole brain radiotherapy, with or without a boost, was favoured by the majority, particularly in oat cell cancer. However, with a long latency to 'isolated' brain metastasis, oncologists favoured focal radiation therapy. There was a strong preference amongst oncology experts to reserve stereotactic radiation therapy for apparently isolated brain metastasis; this opinion applied to bronchus and breast cancer, and also to melanoma. 6. Whole brain radiotherapy followed by positron emission tomography scanning to determine what viable metastatic disease remained (and potentially treatable by stereotactic/focal technology) was favoured by most of delegates who answered this question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Marcou
- St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK
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Franciosi V, Cocconi G, Michiara M, Di Costanzo F, Fosser V, Tonato M, Carlini P, Boni C, Di Sarra S. Front‐line chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide for patients with brain metastases from breast carcinoma, nonsmall cell lung carcinoma, or malignant melanoma. Cancer 2000. [DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19990401)85:7<1599::aid-cncr23>3.0.co;2-#] [Citation(s) in RCA: 199] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vittorio Franciosi
- Medical Oncology Units of Parma, Terni, Vicenza, Perugia, Roma, and Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Giorgio Cocconi
- Medical Oncology Units of Parma, Terni, Vicenza, Perugia, Roma, and Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Maria Michiara
- Medical Oncology Units of Parma, Terni, Vicenza, Perugia, Roma, and Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Francesco Di Costanzo
- Medical Oncology Units of Parma, Terni, Vicenza, Perugia, Roma, and Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Vinicio Fosser
- Medical Oncology Units of Parma, Terni, Vicenza, Perugia, Roma, and Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Maurizio Tonato
- Medical Oncology Units of Parma, Terni, Vicenza, Perugia, Roma, and Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Paolo Carlini
- Medical Oncology Units of Parma, Terni, Vicenza, Perugia, Roma, and Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Corrado Boni
- Medical Oncology Units of Parma, Terni, Vicenza, Perugia, Roma, and Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Sofia Di Sarra
- Medical Oncology Units of Parma, Terni, Vicenza, Perugia, Roma, and Reggio Emilia, Italy
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Kobayashi S, Okada S, Hasumi T, Sato N, Fujimura S. Long-term survival of a patient with stage IV pulmonary large cell carcinoma achieved by combined-modality therapy: report of a case. Surg Today 2000; 30:561-6. [PMID: 10883474 DOI: 10.1007/s005950070130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
We describe herein the case of a 59-year-old-man with stage IV pulmonary large cell carcinoma and a giant brain metastasis, in whom two sublines with different growth characteristics and drug sensitivities in vitro were established from the primary tumor. Disease-free survival for more than 5 years after surgery was achieved by combined-modality therapy together with surgery to remove the primary tumor, radiation to the brain metastasis, and chemotherapy to presumed hematogenous dissemination. Subline 1 proliferated in a monolayer of epithelial-like cells, while subline 2 showed a floating colony pattern of proliferation, resembling the typical growth characteristics of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells in vitro. Subline 2 was sensitive to a number of drugs, namely, vincristine (VCR), cyclophosphamide (CPM), adriamycin (ADR), and cisplatin (CDDP), whereas subline 1 was resistant to many drugs. The patient was treated with a combination of 44 Gy of whole-brain irradiation and a number of cycles of chemotherapy comprised of ADR, VCR, and CPM, followed by CDDP, VCR, and CPM, based on the results of sensitivity testing of the subline 2 cells. As a result, the patient has been disease-free for more than 5 years postoperatively. In conclusion, this case report serves to demonstrate that meticulous combined-modality treatment taking tumor heterogeneity in human cancers into account may be necessary to achieve breakthroughs in current cancer therapy for advanced lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Kobayashi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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Fokstuen T, Wilking N, Rutqvist LE, Wolke J, Liedberg A, Signomklao T, Fernberg JO. Radiation therapy in the management of brain metastases from breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2000; 62:211-6. [PMID: 11072785 DOI: 10.1023/a:1006486423827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
A retrospective analysis of 99 patients treated at Radiumhemmet, Karolinska Hospital 1979-1990 with palliative radiotherapy for brain metastases from breast cancer was performed. A relief of symptoms was obtained in 45% of patients. Median time from diagnosis of breast cancer until CNS metastases was 33 months. Median survival time with CNS metastases after diagnosis was 5 months. Prognostic indicators for survival were studied. Patients operated for a singular brain metastasis and irradiated postoperatively had a mean survival of 21 months while patients with multiple brain metastases and meningeal spread displayed a short median survival. Extracranial disease status influenced prognosis significantly. Radiation dose (CRE) did not correlate with survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Fokstuen
- Department of Oncology, Radiumhemmet, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Maor MH, Dubey P, Tucker SL, Shiu AS, Mathur BN, Sawaya R, Lang FF, Hassenbusch SJ. Stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases: results and prognostic factors. Int J Cancer 2000; 90:157-62. [PMID: 10900428 DOI: 10.1002/1097-0215(20000620)90:3<157::aid-ijc6>3.0.co;2-i] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
This study was conducted to determine prognostic factors for tumor response and patient survival after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for brain metastasis. Eighty-four patients with brain metastasis underwent SRS at a single institution. After fixation of the head with a stereotactic frame, computed tomography treatment planning was performed. The metastatic lesion was treated with multiple arcs to a median dose of 19 Gy. Forty-seven patients (56%) had a solitary brain lesion. Fifty-nine patients (70%) had evidence of extracranial disease at the time of SRS. The median survival duration from SRS was 7 months. Sixty-three percent of the patients had an objective radiographic response to SRS, which in turn was associated with superior central nervous system control. Age, collimator size, number of arcs, tumor location, and histology did not influence objective response rates. Patients who had a solitary lesion or who received treatment within 2 weeks after diagnosis were more likely to have an objective response than were those who did not (P < 0.05). Progressive brain disease accounted for 37% of the deaths. Nineteen patients (23%) had an in-field relapse. Four severe complications were attributed to SRS. This study confirms the role of SRS as an acceptable treatment option for patients with solitary or limited brain metastases. Int. J. Cancer (Radiat. Oncol. Invest.) 90, 157-162 (2000).
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Affiliation(s)
- M H Maor
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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Li B, Yu J, Suntharalingam M, Kennedy AS, Amin PP, Chen Z, Yin R, Guo S, Han T, Wang Y, Yu N, Song G, Wang L. Comparison of three treatment options for single brain metastasis from lung cancer. Int J Cancer 2000. [DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0215(20000220)90:1<37::aid-ijc5>3.0.co;2-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Matsuo T, Shibata S, Yasunaga A, Iwanaga M, Mori K, Shimizu T, Hayashi N, Ochi M, Hayashi K. Dose optimization and indication of Linac radiosurgery for brain metastases. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1999; 45:931-9. [PMID: 10571200 DOI: 10.1016/s0360-3016(99)00271-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The authors have examined treatment effects of linear accelerator based radiosurgery for brain metastases. Optimal doses and indications were determined in an attempt to improve the quality of life for terminal cancer patients. METHODS AND MATERIALS Ninety-two patients with 162 lesions were treated with Linac radiosurgery for brain metastases between April 1993 and September 1998. To determine prognostic factors, risk factors for recurrence, and appearance of new lesions, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. To compare the local control between the high-dose (minimum dose > or =25 Gy: prescribed to the 50-80% isodose line) and low-dose (minimum dose <25 Gy) irradiated groups, matched-pairs analysis was performed. RESULTS Median survival time was 11 months. In univariate analysis, extracranial tumor activity (p<0.001) and Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) (p = 0.036) were two significant predictors of survival. In multivariate analysis, the status of an extracranial tumor was the single significant predictor of survival (p = 0.005). Minimum dose was the single most significant predictor of local recurrence in univariate, multivariate, and matched-pairs analyses (p<0.05). As to the appearance of new lesions, activity of extracranial tumors was a significant predictor (p<0.05). Side effects due to radiosurgery were experienced in 4 of 92 cases (4.3%). CONCLUSIONS We concluded that brain metastases patients should be irradiated with > or =25 Gy, when extracranial lesions are stable and longer survival is expected. Combined surgery and conventional radiation may have little advantage over radiosurgery alone when metastatic brain tumors are small and extracranial tumors are well controlled. When extracranial tumors are progressive, the rate of appearance of new lesions in other nonirradiated locations becomes higher. In such cases, careful follow-up is required and a combination with whole brain irradiation should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Matsuo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Japan.
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Kondziolka D, Patel A, Lunsford LD, Kassam A, Flickinger JC. Stereotactic radiosurgery plus whole brain radiotherapy versus radiotherapy alone for patients with multiple brain metastases. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1999; 45:427-34. [PMID: 10487566 DOI: 10.1016/s0360-3016(99)00198-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 648] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Multiple brain metastases are a common health problem, frequently diagnosed in patients with cancer. The prognosis, even after treatment with whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT), is poor with average expected survivals less than 6 months. Retrospective series of stereotactic radiosurgery have shown local control and survival benefits in case series of patients with solitary brain metastases. We hypothesized that radiosurgery plus WBRT would provide improved local brain tumor control over WBRT alone in patients with two to four brain metastases. METHODS Patients with two to four brain metastases (all < or =25 mm diameter and known primary tumor type) were randomized to initial brain tumor management with WBRT alone (30 Gy in 12 fractions) or WBRT plus radiosurgery. Extent of extracranial cancer, tumor diameters on MRI scan, and functional status were recorded before and after initial care. RESULTS The study was stopped at an interim evaluation at 60% accrual. Twenty-seven patients were randomized (14 to WBRT alone and 13 to WBRT plus radiosurgery). The groups were well matched to age, sex, tumor type, number of tumors, and extent of extracranial disease. The rate of local failure at 1 year was 100% after WBRT alone but only 8% in patients who had boost radiosurgery. The median time to local failure was 6 months after WBRT alone (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.5-8.5) in comparison to 36 months (95% CI, 15.6-57) after WBRT plus radiosurgery (p = 0.0005). The median time to any brain failure was improved in the radiosurgery group (p = 0.002). Tumor control did not depend on histology (p = 0.85), number of initial brain metastases (p = 0.25), or extent of extracranial disease (p = 0.26). Patients who received WBRT alone lived a median of 7.5 months, while those who received WBRT plus radiosurgery lived 11 months (p = 0.22). Survival did not depend on histology or number of tumors, but was related to extent of extracranial disease (p = 0.02). There was no neurologic or systemic morbidity related to stereotactic radiosurgery. CONCLUSIONS Combined WBRT and radiosurgery for patients with two to four brain metastases significantly improves control of brain disease. WBRT alone does not provide lasting and effective care for most patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Kondziolka
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Agboola O, Benoit B, Cross P, Da Silva V, Esche B, Lesiuk H, Gonsalves C. Prognostic factors derived from recursive partition analysis (RPA) of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) brain metastases trials applied to surgically resected and irradiated brain metastatic cases. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1998; 42:155-9. [PMID: 9747833 DOI: 10.1016/s0360-3016(98)00198-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE (a) To identify the prognostic factors that determine survival after surgical resection and irradiation of tumors metastatic to brain. (b) To determine if the prognostic factors used in the recursive partition analysis (RPA) of brain metastases cases from Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) studies into three distinct survival classes is applicable to surgically resected and irradiated patients. METHOD The medical records of 125 patients who had surgical resection and radiotherapy for brain metastases from 1985 to 1997 were reviewed. The patients' disease and treatment related factors were analyzed to identify factors that independently determine survival after diagnosis of brain metastasis. The patients were also grouped into three classes using the RPA-derived prognostic parameters which are: age, performance status, state of the primary disease, and presence or absence of extracranial metastases. Class 1: patients < or = 65 years of age, Karnofsky performance status (KPS) of > or =70, with controlled primary disease and no extracranial metastases; Class 3: patients with KPS < 70. Patients who do not qualify for Class 1 or 3 are grouped as Class 2. The survival of these patients was determined from the time of diagnosis of brain metastases to the time of death. RESULTS The median survival of the entire group was 9.5 months. The three classes of patients as grouped had median survivals of 14.8, 9.9, and 6.0 months respectively (p=0.0002). Age of < 65 years, KPS of > or = 70, controlled primary disease, absence of extracranial metastases, complete surgical resection of the brain lesion(s) were found to be independent prognostic factors for survival; the total dose of radiation was not. CONCLUSION Based on the results of this study, the patients and disease characteristics have significant impact on the survival of patients with brain metastases treated with a combination of surgical resection and radiotherapy. These parameters could be used in selecting patients who would benefit most from such treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Agboola
- Cancer Care Ontario, Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre, The University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine, Canada
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