Whole brain radiotherapy for the treatment of multiple brain metastases

[Short-term survival prediction scale in patients with metastatic brain disease caused by lung and breast cancer]

OBJECTIVE

To develop a prognostic scale suitable for distinguishing a group of poor prognosis with low survival prior to deciding on the appropriateness of radiotherapy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We analyzed only those patients with reliably known date of death after previous WBRT to determine objective criteria allowing WBRT abandonment. WBRT was carried out in 100 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (n=49) and breast cancer (n=51) and confirmed metastatic brain disease. All procedures have been conducted at the radiotherapy department of the Herzen Moscow Oncology Research Institute since January 2014. The prescribed dose of 3 Gy was ensured in all patients. Total focal dose of 30 Gy delivered in 10 fractions was achieved in 77 cases, 36 Gy delivered in 12 fractions - in 23 cases.

RESULTS

Death date was recorded in all patients (n=100) by January 2020. In the electronic SPSS database, death information was digitized for each patient up to 2-24 months, respectively. We identified eight the most significant factors by using of correlation analysis: primary tumor (controlled (0), uncontrolled (1)), number of brain metastases (<17 (0), ≥17 (1)), volume of brain metastases (<48 cm³ (0) ≥48 cm³ (1)), extracranial control (no metastases (0), metastases with positive dynamics after chemotherapy (1), continued growth after chemotherapy (2)), metastatic lesion of liver and lungs, respectively (no (0), yes (1)), functional status (≥ 70% (0), ≤ 60% (1)), carcinomatosis of the meninges (no (0), yes (1)). A simple summation of digital variables for factors 1-8 in each patient resulted a prognostic scale. Low risk of early mortality after WBRT was determined by 0-3 scores, intermediate risk - 4-5 scores, high risk - 6-9 scores. According to univariate analysis (log-rank 0.000), median survival rate varied in these groups: low risk - 15.5 months (11.4-19.7), intermediate risk - 5.26 months (4.6-6.0), high risk - only 1.35 months (0.9-1.8). Only 1 out of 15 high-risk patients (6-9 scores) survived 3 months (3.25 months). Inclusion of all eight factors into multivariate analysis revealed significant impact of only risk group on short-term survival. A 3-month survival in the high-risk group was 20.6 times lower (p=0.002) compared to the low and intermediate risk groups.

CONCLUSION

High significance of prognostic model and low informative value of each of the included factors emphasize the advisability of determining risk groups for short-term survival according to the suggested scale for each patient scheduled for WBRT. A simple assessment of separate predictors is pointless to decide whether WBRT is necessary.

Brain metastases in ALK-positive NSCLC - time to adjust current treatment algorithms

The progress in molecular biology has revolutionized systemic treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from conventional chemotherapy to a treatment stratified by histology and genetic aberrations. Tumors harboring a translocation of the anaplastic-lymphoma-kinase (ALK) gene constitute a distinct genetic and clinico-pathologic NSCLC subtype with patients with ALK-positive disease being at a higher risk for developing brain metastases. Due to the introduction of effective targeted therapy with ALK-inhibitors, today, patients with advanced ALK-positive NSCLC achieve high overall response rates and remain progression-free for long time intervals. Moreover, ALK-inhibitors seem to exhibit efficacy in the treatment of brain metastases. In the light of this, it needs to be discussed how treatment algorithms for managing patients with brain metastases should be modified. By integrating systemic ALK-inhibitor therapy, radiotherapy, in particular whole brain radiotherapy might be postponed deferring potential long-term impairment by neurocognitive deficits to a later time point in the course of the disease. An early treatment of asymptomatic brain metastases might offer patients a longer time without impairment of cerebral symptoms or radiotherapeutic interventions. Based on an updated extensive review of the literature this article provides an overview on the epidemiology and the treatment of patients’ brain metastases. It describes the specifics of ALK-positive disease and proposes an algorithm for the treatment of patients with advanced ALK-positive NSCLC and brain metastases.

Survival after whole brain radiotherapy for brain metastases from lung cancer and breast cancer is poor in 6325 Dutch patients treated between 2000 and 2014

BACKGROUND

Whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) is considered standard of care for patients with multiple brain metastases or unfit for radical treatment modalities. Recent studies raised discussion about the expected survival after WBRT. Therefore, we analysed survival after WBRT for brain metastases 'in daily practice' in a large nationwide multicentre retrospective cohort.

METHODS

Between 2000 and 2014, 6325 patients had WBRT (20 Gy in 4 Gy fractions) for brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC; 4363 patients) or breast cancer (BC; 1962 patients); patients were treated in 15 out of 21 Dutch radiotherapy centres. Survival was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method from the first day of WBRT until death as recorded in local hospital data registration or the Dutch Municipal Personal Records Database.

FINDINGS

The median survival was 2.7 months for NSCLC and 3.7 months for BC patients (p < .001). For NSCLC patients aged <50, 50-60, 60-70 and >70 years, survival was 4.0, 3.0, 2.8 and 2.1 months, respectively (p < .001). For BC patients, survival was 4.5, 3.8, 3.2 and 2.9 months, respectively (p = .047). In multivariable analyses, higher age was related to poorer survival with hazard ratios (HR) for patients aged 50-60, 60-70 and >70 years being 1.05, 1.19 and 1.34, respectively. Primary BC (HR: 0.83) and female sex (HR: 0.85) were related to better survival (p < .001).

INTERPRETATION

The survival of patients after WBRT for brain metastases from NSCLC treated in Dutch 'common radiotherapy practice' is poor, in breast cancer and younger patients it is disappointingly little better. These results are in line with the results presented in the QUARTZ trial and we advocate a much more restrictive use of WBRT. In patients with a more favourable prognosis the optimal treatment strategy remains to be determined. Prospective randomized trials and individualized prognostic models are needed to identify these patients and to tailor treatment.

Whole brain radiotherapy for the treatment of newly diagnosed multiple brain metastases

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.

Volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for whole brain radiotherapy: not only for hippocampal sparing, but also for reduction of dose to organs at risk

A prospective clinical trial, Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 0933, has demonstrated that whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) using conformal radiation delivery technique with hippocampal avoidance is associated with less memory complications. Further sparing of other organs at risk (OARs) including the scalp, ear canals, cochleae, and parotid glands could be associated with reductions in additional toxicities for patients treated with WBRT. We investigated the feasibility of WBRT using volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) to spare the hippocampi and the aforementioned OARs. Ten patients previously treated with nonconformal WBRT (NC-WBRT) using opposed lateral beams were retrospectively re-planned using VMAT with hippocampal sparing according to the RTOG 0933 protocol. The OARs (scalp, auditory canals, cochleae, and parotid glands) were considered as dose-constrained structures. VMAT plans were generated for a prescription dose of 30 Gy in 10 fractions. Comparison of the dosimetric parameters achieved by VMAT and NC-WBRT plans was performed using paired t-tests using upper bound p-value of < 0.001. Average beam on time and monitor units (MUs) delivered to the patients on VMAT were compared with those obtained with NC-WBRT. All VMAT plans met RTOG 0933 dosimetric criteria including the dose to hippocampi of 100% of the volume (D_100%) of 8.4 ± 0.3 Gy and maximum dose of 15.6 ± 0.4 Gy, respectively. A statistically significant dose reduction (p < 0.001) to all OARs was achieved. The mean and maximum scalp doses were reduced by an average of 9 Gy (32%) and 2 Gy (6%), respectively. The mean and maximum doses to the auditory canals were reduced from 29.5 ± 0.5 Gy and 31.0 ± 0.4 Gy with NC-WBRT, to 21.8 ± 1.6 Gy (26%) and 27.4 ± 1.4 Gy (12%) with VMAT. VMAT also reduced mean and maximum doses to the cochlea by an average of 4 Gy (13%) and 2 Gy (6%), respectively. The parotid glands mean and maximum doses with VMAT were 4.4 ± 1.9 Gy and 15.7 ± 5.0 Gy, compared to 12.8 ± 4.9 Gy and 30.6 ± 0.5 Gy with NC-WBRT, respectively. The average dose reduction of mean and maximum of parotid glands from VMAT were 65% and 50%, respectively. The average beam on time and MUs were 2.3minutes and 719 on VMAT, and 0.7 minutes and 350 on NC-WBRT. This study demonstrated the feasibility of WBRT using VMAT to not only spare the hippocampi, but also significantly reduce dose to OARs. These advantages of VMAT could potentially decrease the toxicities associated with NC-WBRT and improve patients' quality of life, especially for patients with favorable prognosis receiving WBRT or patients receiving prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI).

Psychometric validation of the Brain Symptom and Impact Questionnaire (BASIQ) version 1.0 to assess quality of life in patients with brain metastases

OBJECTIVE

To test the reliability, clinical and psychometric validity of the Brain Symptom and Impact Questionnaire (BASIQ) in patients with brain metastases.

METHODS

Brain metastases patients were interviewed using the BASIQ, Functional Assessment of Cancer-Brain (FACT-Br) and FACT-General (FACT-G) at baseline, with a follow-up assessment at 1 month.

RESULTS

Forty patients had complete one data and the median age was 64 years. Patients with higher KPS, ECOG of 2, primary breast cancer, or >3 brain metastases, scored higher on the symptom scale of the BASIQ. All subscales showed no significant change in patient symptoms from baseline to follow-up.

CONCLUSION

This study supports that the reliability, clinical and psychometric validity of BASIQ to be used in brain metastases patients.

Palliative whole-brain radiotherapy and health- related quality of life for patients with brain metastasis in cancer

OBJECTIVE

To assess the use of palliative whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) in the treatment of brain metastases (BMs) and to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of these patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of 46 patients with BMs who were treated with WBRT at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University between January 2013 and January 2015. External beam radiotherapy techniques were used to deliver 40 Gy in 20 fractions or 30 Gy in ten fractions with a 10 MV photon beam from a linear accelerator to the whole brain. Data were stored and analyzed using SPSS version 17.0.

RESULTS

Of the 46 patients, the survival time of patients in our study was 10.8±0.55 months: 11.8±0.46 months in patients with WBRT, 11.75±1.00 in patients with WBRT + chemotherapy, and 3±0.79 months in patients with supportive care, respectively (P<0.01). The HRQOL scores of all the patients were 70±1.16 (before therapy) and 76.83±1.04 (after therapy) (P<0.01). The HRQOL scores of the patients with WBRT were 72.23±0.88 (before therapy) and 78.49±0.87 (after therapy) (P<0.01). There was no central nervous system toxicity; only two (4.3%) patients were found to have BM hemorrhage. Radiation necrosis happened in one patient (2.2%).

CONCLUSION

Effective treatment options for patients with BMs are important. WBRT was evaluated to ensure survival outcomes and QOL were enhanced after therapy for patients with BMs.

Comparative effectiveness research in radiation oncology: assessing technology

Technological advances are a major contributor to rising costs in health care, including radiation oncology. Despite the large amount spent on new technologies, technology assessment remains inadequate, leading to potentially costly and unnecessary use of new technologies. Comparative effectiveness studies have an important role to play in evaluating the benefits and harms of new technologies compared with older technologies and have been identified as a priority area for research by the Radiation Oncology Institute. This article outlines the elements of effective technology assessment, identifies key challenges to comparative effectiveness studies of new radiation oncology technologies, and reviews several examples of comparative effectiveness studies in radiation oncology, including studies on conformal radiation, IMRT, proton therapy, and other concurrent new technologies.

Parotid glands in whole-brain radiotherapy: 2D versus 3D technique for no sparing or sparing

PURPOSE

Whole-brain radiotherapy is performed as standard therapy in patients with multiple brain metastases and in patients with more favourable prognosis such as lymphoma and small-cell lung carcinoma in the prophylactic setting. Because of the prognosis and the total prescribed dose, the parotid glands are not usually regarded as an organ at risk in whole-brain radiotherapy. Long-term survival can be expected in some of these patients and late toxicity can be observed, becoming essential to evaluate organs at risk, particularly the parotid glands even in metastatic patients. We compared the 2D with 3D technique to evaluate parotid glands involvement and received dose, and coverage of the clinical target volume.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seven patients were considered. The prescribed dose was 30 Gy in ten fractions. On the same day and with the same set-up, all the treatment planning were performed using a 2D and 3D technique. A treatment plan was performed following same technical characteristics as the 2D technique. The parotid glands and whole brain were delineated. Dose-volume statistics were analysed.

RESULTS

Dose-volume histograms of the parotid glands showed that 2/7 patients (28 %) received a mean dose >20 Gy. We found a lack of coverage of the clinical target volume in 6/7 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Planning whole-brain radiotherapy with only the 2D technique involves a risk of including parotid glands in the field and not covering the clinical target volume. The 3D technique should be systematically performed and the parotid glands should be regarded as an organ at risk in whole-brain radiotherapy.

Phase II study of whole brain radiotherapy with or without erlotinib in patients with multiple brain metastases from lung adenocarcinoma

The aim of this paper is to explore the efficacy of whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) versus WBRT concurrent with erlotinib in patients with multiple brain metastases of lung adenocarcinoma. WBRT was administered at 30Gy/10f in both arms. In the combination arm, 150 mg erlotinib was given each day, starting the first day of radiotherapy and continuing for 1 month following the end of radiotherapy. Thereafter, pemetrexed or docetaxel monotherapy or the best supportive therapy was given to both arms. The intracranial objective response rate and the local progression-free survival (LPFS) were primary endpoints. Toxicity, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were secondary endpoints. Thirty-one patients in the WBRT group and 23 patients in the combination group were enrolled from November 2009 to December 2011. In the WBRT and the combination arms, respectively, the objective response rate was 54.84% and 95.65% (P = 0.001), the median local progression-free survival was 6.8 months and 10.6 months (P = 0.003), the median PFS was 5.2 months and 6.8 months (P = 0.009), and median OS was 8.9 months and 10.7 months (P = 0.020). In the combination group, there were no differences of LPFS, PFS, and OS between the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation patients and EGFR wild-type patients. No Grade 4 or higher side effects were observed in either group. A multivariate analysis indicated that erlotinib was the most important prognostic factor for a prolonged survival. Data showed that erlotinib in combination with WBRT had a tolerable toxicity profile and prolonged the LPFS, PFS, and OS of lung adenocarcinoma patients with multiple brain metastases compared with WBRT monotherapy.

Radiotherapeutic and surgical management for newly diagnosed brain metastasis(es): An American Society for Radiation Oncology evidence-based guideline

Purpose

To systematically review the evidence for the radiotherapeutic and surgical management of patients newly diagnosed with intraparenchymal brain metastases.

Methods and Materials

Key clinical questions to be addressed in this evidence-based Guideline were identified. Fully published randomized controlled trials dealing with the management of newly diagnosed intraparenchymal brain metastases were searched systematically and reviewed. The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force levels of evidence were used to classify various options of management.

Results

The choice of management in patients with newly diagnosed single or multiple brain metastases depends on estimated prognosis and the aims of treatment (survival, local treated lesion control, distant brain control, neurocognitive preservation).

Single brain metastasis and good prognosis (expected survival 3 months or more): For a single brain metastasis larger than 3 to 4 cm and amenable to safe complete resection, whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and surgery (level 1) should be considered. Another alternative is surgery and radiosurgery/radiation boost to the resection cavity (level 3). For single metastasis less than 3 to 4 cm, radiosurgery alone or WBRT and radiosurgery or WBRT and surgery (all based on level 1 evidence) should be considered. Another alternative is surgery and radiosurgery or radiation boost to the resection cavity (level 3). For single brain metastasis (less than 3 to 4 cm) that is not resectable or incompletely resected, WBRT and radiosurgery, or radiosurgery alone should be considered (level 1). For nonresectable single brain metastasis (larger than 3 to 4 cm), WBRT should be considered (level 3).

Multiple brain metastases and good prognosis (expected survival 3 months or more): For selected patients with multiple brain metastases (all less than 3 to 4 cm), radiosurgery alone, WBRT and radiosurgery, or WBRT alone should be considered, based on level 1 evidence. Safe resection of a brain metastasis or metastases causing significant mass effect and postoperative WBRT may also be considered (level 3).

Patients with poor prognosis (expected survival less than 3 months): Patients with either single or multiple brain metastases with poor prognosis should be considered for palliative care with or without WBRT (level 3).

It should be recognized, however, that there are limitations in the ability of physicians to accurately predict patient survival. Prognostic systems such as recursive partitioning analysis, and diagnosis-specific graded prognostic assessment may be helpful.

Conclusions

Radiotherapeutic intervention (WBRT or radiosurgery) is associated with improved brain control. In selected patients with single brain metastasis, radiosurgery or surgery has been found to improve survival and locally treated metastasis control (compared with WBRT alone).

Monte Carlo simulation of contrast-enhanced whole brain radiotherapy on a CT scanner

PURPOSE

To perform a feasibility study of contrast-enhanced whole brain radiotherapy for treating patients with multiple brain metastasis using a conventional computed tomography (CT) scanner.

METHODS

The treatment dose was optimized to be applied in a single run using a maximum tube power of 5200 kWs at 140 kV. CT scans of a large and a small head were used as reference. Irradiation geometry, shielding, axial beam collimation, radial beam collimation, gantry tilt, and tube current for beam modulation were optimized using a Monte Carlo simulation and a contrast agent concentration of 5 mg/ml iodine in the tumor. The statistical uncertainty of the Monte Carlo simulation was corrected using back convolution.

RESULTS

Using a CT tube with a beam collimation of 28.8 mm, a mean tumor dose of 1.76 +/- 0.13 Gy was achieved, while the head bone dose was 2.61 +/- 0.18 Gy with a normal brain dose of 0.98 +/- 0.06 Gy, eye dose of 0.19 +/- 0.05 Gy, and lens dose of 0.15 +/- 0.03 Gy, respectively. Using a CT tube with dose modulation and a beam collimation of 40.0 mm, the mean tumor dose was 2.00 +/- 0.11 Gy with a head bone dose of 1.96 +/- 0.14 Gy, normal brain dose of 1.13 +/- 0.08 Gy, eye dose of 0.21 +/- 0.05 Gy, and lens dose of 0.16 +/- 0.02 Gy, respectively. Thus a standard CT scanner enables an effective tumor dose of 37.0 Gy to be administered in 13 fractions, while exposing healthy brain to an effective dose of 17.2 Gy and head bone to 69.3 Gy. Additional radial collimation implemented in the hardware improves the therapeutic tumor dose by 25.2% in relation to the bone dose.

CONCLUSIONS

Contrast-enhanced total brain radiotherapy is feasible using a conventional CT tube with optimized dose application.

Clinical outcome of central nervous system metastases from breast cancer: differences in survival depending on systemic treatment

Central nerve system (CNS) metastases are a feared complication of breast cancer and are associated with poor prognosis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics of CNS metastases and to clarify the prognostic factors after CNS metastases in breast cancer at a single institution over a long time period. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of breast cancer patients diagnosed at Seoul National University Hospital from 1981 to 2009 and identified the patients who experienced CNS metastases. We collected the data, including demographics, clinico-pathologic characteristics, dates of diagnosis of original breast cancer and subsequent metastases, and date of death, and correlated the findings with the clinical outcome. A total of 400 patients were identified, of whom 17 (4.3%) were diagnosed with CNS metastases and primary breast cancer concurrently and 383 (95.7%) experienced CNS metastases subsequent to the diagnosis of primary breast cancer. Further, 318 patients (79.5%) had only brain parenchymal metastases, 30 (7.5%) had only leptomeningeal metastases, and 52 (13%) had both. After the diagnosis of CNS metastasis, 170 patients (42.5%) received systemic chemotherapy (CTx) and 143 (35.8%) received CTx after whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT). The patients with good performance status (PS), initial CNS metastasis as recurrence, absence of extracranial metastases, non-visceral extracranial metastases, longer interval from the date of primary breast cancer to the date of CNS metastasis, and CTx after WBRT and gamma-knife surgery (GKS), had better outcomes in univariate analyses. In multivariate analysis, good PS, systemic CTx after WBRT, GKS, and longer interval to CNS metastasis, were independent prognostic factors for overall survival after CNS metastases. Our results suggest that appropriate palliative systemic therapy after WBRT or GKS, and adequate palliative treatment via combined modalities are helpful for breast cancer patients, even after the detection of CNS metastases.

Surgical brain metastases: management and outcome related to prognostic indexes: a critical review of a ten-year series

Brain metastasis are the most common neoplastic lesions of the nervous system. Many cancer patients are diagnosed on the basis of a first clinical presentation of cancer on the basis of a single or multiple brain lesions. Brain metastases are manifestations of primary disease progression and often determine a poor prognosis. Not all patients with a brain metastases undergo surgery: many are submitted to alternative or palliative treatments. Management of patients with brain metastases is still controversial, and many studies have been developed to determine which is the best therapy. Furthermore, management of patients operated for a brain metastasis is often difficult. Chemotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, panencephalic radiation therapy, and surgery, in combination or alone, are the means most commonly used. We report our experience in the management of a ten-year series of surgical brain metastasis and discuss our results in the preoperative and postoperative management of this complex condition.

Role of palliative radiotherapy in brain metastases

Background:

Brain metastases are a common manifestation of systemic cancer and exceed primary brain tumors in number and are a significant cause of neurologic problems. They affect 20-40% of all cancer patients. Aggressive management of brain metastases is effective in both symptom palliation and prolonging the life. Radiotherapy has a major role to play in the management of brain metastases.

AIM:

The aim of the study was to know the outcome of palliative radiotherapy in symptomatic brain metastases in terms of improvement in their performance status.

Materials and Methods:

This is a retrospective study of 63 patients diagnosed to have brain metastases and treated with palliative whole brain radiotherapy to a dose of 30 Gy in 10 fractions over two weeks between June 1998 and June 2007. Diagnosis was done in most of the cases with computed tomography scan and in a few with magnetic resonance imaging. Improvement in presenting symptoms has been assessed in terms of improvement in their performance status by using the ECOG scale.

Results:

Fifty-four patients completed the planned treatment. Eight patients received concurrent Temozolamide; 88% of patients had symptom relief at one month follow-up; 39/54 patients had a follow-up of just one to three months. Hence survival could not be assessed in this study.

Conclusion:

External beam radiotherapy in the dose of 30 Gy over two weeks achieved good palliation in terms improvement in their performance status in 88% of patients. Addition of concurrent and adjuvant Timozolamide may improve the results.

Defining treatment for brain metastases patients: nihilism versus optimism

AIMS

Treatment of brain metastases patients has included whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for over 50 years, and there is much data showing this to be associated with short-term gains. The integration of resection and radiosurgery to these patients allows some better prognostic groups to experience long-term local control and improvement in quality of life. The recursive partitioning analysis of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) has been used as a predictive model for over a decade to identify three classes of patients. Number of lesions has been used to define treatment for a good prognostic subgroup that is eligible for surgery or radiosurgery, but there are few prospective studies of poorer prognosis brain metastases patients to evaluate the influence of number of lesions on the prediction of outcome. We examined patient, treatment and outcome parameters of all brain metastases patients in a 5-year period so that we could measure outcome and evaluate various factors on survival.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This was a population-based study of all brain metastases patients in Southern Alberta between 2000 and 2005. It used an Excel spreadsheet database and STATA 8 software to analyze outcomes. The study included 568 patients representing 4.4% of our radiotherapy population. Median age, performance status and distribution of primary disease sites were comparable with other large series. Overall survival for the whole group was 3.05 months. Independent factors predicting for improved overall survival included younger age, KPS <70, less than four lesions and the use of stereotactic radiosurgery. Presence of extracranial disease or persistence of primary disease did not adversely impact survival outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

This series shows that the number of lesions is a strong predictor of outcome. Integration of this factor into a decision-making model allows for identification of not only good prognosis patients who will benefit from aggressive treatment but it also facilitates decision making for poorer prognosis patients who are less likely to benefit from WBRT. Recursive partitioning RTOG class 2 and 3 patients with more than three lesions did particularly poor and had an overall survival of 3 months with WBRT. We question the value of WBRT in this subgroup and wonder if best supportive care would be more justifiable given the low survival figures achieved.

Validation of recursive partitioning analysis classification in patients with brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer treated with short-course accelerated radiotherapy

AIMS

To study various prognostic factors affecting outcome and to validate Radiation Therapy Oncology Group recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) class in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with brain metastases treated with short-course accelerated radiotherapy (SCAR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The case records of 100 patients with NSCLC consecutively treated at Tata Memorial Hospital from August 2006 to August 2009 were studied for various patient, tumour and treatment-related prognostic factors. Patients received whole-brain radiotherapy to a dose of 20 Gy/five fractions over 1 week (n=90) or 30 Gy/10 fractions over 2 weeks (n=10). The Kaplan-Meier estimate was used for survival analysis in SPSS v15.

RESULTS

The median overall survival was 4.0 months (range 0.5-30.0 months). The 6-, 12-, 18- and 24-month survival rates were 35.8, 18.0, 9.3 and 6.2%, respectively. Of the various prognostic factors, RPA class (II versus III, P value=0.023), Karnofsky performance score (<70 versus ≥70, P value=0.039) and the use of systemic therapy (yes versus no, P value=0.00) emerged as significant on univariate analysis. RPA classification effectively separated the patient population into prognostically distinct subgroups. The median overall survival for RPA class II and RPA class III was 6 and 4 months, respectively. The use of systemic therapy prolonged overall survival by 6 months (3 months versus 9 months).

CONCLUSION

The SCAR regimen is an effective and resource-sparing palliative strategy for brain metastases in NSCLC. The results validate the usefulness of RPA classification in this specific subset of patients treated with SCAR.

Cognitive Sparing during the Administration of Whole Brain Radiotherapy and Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation: Current Concepts and Approaches

Whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for the palliation of metastases, or as prophylaxis to prevent intracranial metastases, can be associated with subacute and late decline in memory and other cognitive functions. Moreover, these changes are often increased in both frequency and severity when cranial irradiation is combined with the use of systemic or intrathecal chemotherapy. Approaches to preventing or reducing this toxicity include the use of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) instead of WBRT; dose reduction for PCI; exclusion of the limbic circuit, hippocampal formation, and/or neural stem cell regions of the brain during radiotherapy; avoidance of intrathecal and/or systemic chemotherapy during radiotherapy; the use of high-dose, systemic chemotherapy in lieu of WBRT. This review discusses these concepts in detail as well as providing both neuroanatomic and radiobiologic background relevant to these issues.

The management of brain metastases in patients with non-small cell lung cancer-is it time to go back to the drawing board?

Unless confirmation of a solitary brain metastasis is made in the context of absent extracranial disease and good performance status, patients with metastatic brain disease from non-small cell lung cancer fare badly. There are no level I recommendations for the management of those with multiple brain metastases. The role of whole brain radiotherapy is not certain in those of poorer performance status. This overview assesses what we know and what we are uncertain of in the context of a changing paradigm for some subsets of patients who may obtain superior palliation with treatments targeted at the histological or molecular level. Once the standard treatment is established (steroids plus or minus whole brain radiotherapy), those who are of better performance status may be considered for comparison of this standard with or without systemic management.

Trastuzumab treatment in patients with breast cancer and metastatic CNS disease

BACKGROUND

Patients with metastatic central nervous system (mCNS) disease progression from breast cancer have a poor prognosis and often develop associated neurological complications. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positivity status increases the risk of developing mCNS disease. Trastuzumab is an mAb that targets HER2 and is known to extend survival across all stages of HER2-positive breast cancer.

DESIGN

This review considers evidence from preclinical and clinical studies examining the value of continuing trastuzumab treatment in patients who develop mCNS disease. A wealth of data from clinical studies showed that trastuzumab prolonged survival in patients with mCNS disease, compared with no trastuzumab treatment, by effectively controlling their non-CNS disease. Trastuzumab has also been shown to penetrate an impaired blood-brain barrier to a limited degree, such as during radiotherapy, and intrathecal delivery of trastuzumab to the central nervous system (CNS) has shown promise. Research efforts are focussing on improving the delivery of trastuzumab to the CNS.

CONCLUSION

Evidence indicates that patients with mCNS disease from HER2-positive breast cancer should continue to receive trastuzumab to control HER2-positive metastases outside the CNS and receive established therapies to control the mCNS disease.

Early expansion of the intracranial CSF volume after palliative whole-brain radiotherapy: results of a longitudinal CT segmentation analysis

PURPOSE

To assess cerebral atrophy after radiotherapy, we measured intracranial cerebrospinal fluid volume (ICSFV) over time after whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and compared it with published normal-population data.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We identified 9 patients receiving a single course of WBRT (30 Gy in 10 fractions over 2 weeks) for ipsilateral brain metastases with at least 3 years of computed tomography follow-up. Segmentation analysis was confined to the tumor-free hemi-cranium. The technique was semiautomated by use of thresholds based on scanned image intensity. The ICSFV percentage (ratio of ICSFV to brain volume) was used for modeling purposes. Published normal-population ICSFV percentages as a function of age were used as a control. A repeated-measures model with cross-sectional (between individuals) and longitudinal (within individuals) quadratic components was fitted to the collected data. The influence of clinical factors including the use of subependymal plate shielding was studied.

RESULTS

The median imaging follow-up was 6.25 years. There was an immediate increase (p < 0.0001) in ICSFV percentage, which decelerated over time. The clinical factors studied had no significant effect on the model.

CONCLUSIONS

WBRT immediately accelerates the rate of brain atrophy. This longitudinal study in patients with brain metastases provides a baseline against which the potential benefits of more localized radiotherapeutic techniques such as radiosurgery may be compared.

A phase III trial of topotecan and whole brain radiation therapy for patients with CNS-metastases due to lung cancer

Brain metastases represent an important cause of morbidity in patients with lung cancer and are associated with a mean survival of less than 6 months. Thus, new regimens improving the outcome of these patients are urgently needed. On the basis of promising data raised in a phase I/II trial, we initiated an open, randomised, prospective, multicentric phase III trial, comparing whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT; 20 × 2 Gy) alone with WBRT+topotecan (RCT; 0.4 mg m⁻² day⁻¹ × 20). A total of 320 patients with CNS-metastases due to SCLC or NSCLC were projected. The primary end point was overall survival, whereas second end points were local response and progression-free survival. However, until the cutoff date of study completion (i.e., a study duration of 34 months), only a total of 96 (RCT:47, WBRT:49) patients had been recruited, and so an analysis was performed at that time point. Although the numbers of grade 3/4 non-haematological toxicities (besides alopecia 115 (RCT/WBRT: 55 out of 60) were evenly distributed, the 25 haematological events occurred mainly in the combined treatment arm (24 out of 1). Local response, evaluated 2 weeks after treatment, was assessable in 44 (RCT/WBRT: 23 out of 21) patients, showing CR in eight (3 out of 5), PR in 17 (11 out of 6), SD in 14 (8 out of 6) and PD in five (1 out of 4) patients (all differences n.s.). Neither OAS (RCT/WBRT: median (days)): 87 out of 95, range 3–752/4–433; HR 1.32; 95% CI (0.83; 2.10)) nor PFS (median (days)): 71 out of 66, range, 3–399/4–228; HR 1.28, 95% CI (0.73; 2.43) differed significantly. On the basis of these results and the slow recruitment, a continuation of the study did not seem reasonable. The available data show no significant advantage for concurrent radiochemotherapy for patients with lung cancer; however, the recruited number of patients is too low to exhibit a small advantage of combined treatment.

How useful are systematic reviews for informing palliative care practice? Survey of 25 Cochrane systematic reviews

BACKGROUND

In contemporary medical research, randomised controlled trials are seen as the gold standard for establishing treatment effects where it is ethical and practical to conduct them. In palliative care such trials are often impractical, unethical, or extremely difficult, with multiple methodological problems. We review the utility of Cochrane reviews in informing palliative care practice.

METHODS

Published reviews in palliative care registered with the Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group as of December 2007 were obtained from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, issue 1, 2008. We reviewed the quality and quantity of primary studies available for each review, assessed the quality of the review process, and judged the strength of the evidence presented. There was no prior intention to perform any statistical analyses.

RESULTS

25 published systematic reviews were identified. Numbers of included trials ranged from none to 54. Within each review, included trials were heterogeneous with respect to patients, interventions, and outcomes, and the number of patients contributing to any single analysis was generally much lower than the total included in the review. A variety of tools were used to assess trial quality; seven reviews did not use this information to exclude low quality studies, weight analyses, or perform sensitivity analysis for effect of low quality. Authors indicated that there were frequently major problems with the primary studies, individually or in aggregate. Our judgment was that the reviewing process was generally good in these reviews, and that conclusions were limited by the number, size, quality and validity of the primary studies.We judged the evidence about 23 of the 25 interventions to be weak. Two reviews had stronger evidence, but with limitations due to methodological heterogeneity or definition of outcomes. No review provided strong evidence of no effect.

CONCLUSION

Cochrane reviews in palliative care are well performed, but fail to provide good evidence for clinical practice because the primary studies are few in number, small, clinically heterogeneous, and of poor quality and external validity. They are useful in highlighting the weakness of the evidence base and problems in performing trials in palliative care.

Multidisciplinary management of brain metastases

Metastatic brain tumors are the most common intracranial neoplasms in adults. The incidence of brain metastases appears to be rising as a result of superior imaging modalities, earlier detection, and more effective treatment of systemic disease. Therapeutic approaches to brain metastases include surgery, whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and chemotherapy. Treatment decisions must take into account clinical prognostic factors in order to maximize survival and neurologic function whilst avoiding unnecessary treatments. The goal of this article is to review important prognostic factors that may guide treatment selection, discuss the roles of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with brain metastases, and present new directions in brain metastasis therapy under active investigation. In the future, patients will benefit from a multidisciplinary approach focused on the integration of surgical, radiation, and chemotherapeutic options with the goal of prolonging survival, preserving neurologic and neurocognitive function, and maximizing quality of life.

A phase III study of conventional radiation therapy plus thalidomide versus conventional radiation therapy for multiple brain metastases (RTOG 0118)

PURPOSE

To compare whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) with WBRT combined with thalidomide for patients with brain metastases not amenable to resection or radiosurgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with Zubrod performance status 0-1, MRI-documented multiple (>3), large (>4 cm), or midbrain brain metastases arising from a histopathologically confirmed extracranial primary tumor, and an anticipated survival of >8 weeks were randomized to receive WBRT to a dose of 37.5 Gy in 15 fractions with or without thalidomide during and after WBRT. Prerandomization stratification used Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) Recursive Partitioning Analysis (RPA) Class and whether post-WBRT chemotherapy was planned. Endpoints included overall survival, progression-free survival, time to neurocognitive progression, the cause of death, toxicities, and quality of life. A protocol-planned interim analysis documented that the trial had an extremely low probability of ever showing a significant difference favoring the thalidomide arm given the results at the time of the analysis, and it was therefore closed on the basis of predefined statistical guidelines.

RESULTS

Enrolled in the study were 332 patients. Of 183 accrued patients, 93 were randomized to receive WBRT alone and 90 to WBRT and thalidomide. Median survival was 3.9 months for both arms. No novel toxicities were seen, but thalidomide was not well tolerated in this population. Forty-eight percent of patients discontinued thalidomide because of side effects.

CONCLUSION

Thalidomide provided no survival benefit for patients with multiple, large, or midbrain metastases when combined with WBRT; nearly half the patients discontinued thalidomide due to side effects.

Value of whole brain re-irradiation for brain metastases--single centre experience

AIMS

There is controversy in published studies regarding the role of repeat whole brain radiation (WBRT) for previously irradiated brain metastases. The aim of our retrospective study was to document the practice at Princess Margaret Hospital with respect to the re-irradiation of patients with progressive or recurrent brain metastatic disease after initial WBRT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A comprehensive computerised database was used to identify patients treated for brain metastases with more than one course of WBRT between 1997 and 2003. Seventy-two patients were treated with WBRT for brain metastases and retreated with WBRT at a later date. The records of these patients were reviewed.

RESULTS

The median age was 56.5 years. The most common primary sites were lung (51 patients) and breast (17 patients). The most frequent dose used for the initial radiotherapy was 20 Gy/5 fractions (62 patients). The most common doses of re-irradiation were 25 Gy/10 fractions (22 patients), 20 Gy/10 fractions (12 patients), 15 Gy/5 fractions (11 patients) and 20 Gy/8 fractions (10 patients). Thirty-one per cent of patients experienced a partial clinical response after re-irradiation, as judged by follow-up clinical notes; 27% remained stable; 32% deteriorated after re-irradiation. Patients who had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-1 at the time of retreatment lived longer. In responders, the mean duration of response was 5.1 months. The median survival after re-irradiation was 4.1 months. One patient was reported as having memory impairment and pituitary insufficiency after 5 months of progression-free survival.

CONCLUSION

Repeat radiotherapy may be a useful treatment in carefully selected patients. With increased survival and better systemic options for patients with metastatic disease, more patients may be candidates for consideration of repeat WBRT for recurrent brain metastases, but prospective studies are needed to more clearly document their outcomes.

Surgical resection and whole brain radiation therapy versus whole brain radiation therapy alone for single brain metastases

BACKGROUND

The treatment of brain metastasis is generally palliative, with whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT), since the majority have uncontrollable systemic cancer. In certain circumstances, such as single brain metastases, death may be more likely from brain involvement than systemic disease. In this group, surgical resection has been proposed to relieve symptoms and prolong survival.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the clinical effectiveness of surgical resection plus WBRT versus WBRT alone in the treatment of single brain metastasis.

SEARCH STRATEGY

The Cochrane Cancer Network Specialised trials register (July 2003), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (Issue 1 2003), MEDLINE (1966 to July 2003), EMBASE (1980 to July 2003), CANCERLIT (1980 to July 2003), BIOSIS (1985 to July 2003) and SCIENCE CITATION INDEX (1981 to July 2003) were searched. References of identified studies were hand searched, as was the Journal of Neuro-Oncology over the previous 10 years and Neuro-Oncology over the past 2 years, including all conference abstracts. Specialists in neuro-oncology were also contacted.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing surgery and WBRT with WBRT alone, in patients with single brain metastasis.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two reviewers independently assessed trial quality and extracted data.

MAIN RESULTS

Three RCTs were identified, with 195 patients in total. No significant difference in survival was noted hazard ratio (HR) 0.74 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.39 to 1.40, p = 0.35), although there was a high degree of heterogeneity between trials. One trial has shown surgery and WBRT to increase the duration of functionally independent survival (FIS) HR 0.42 (95% CI 0.22 to 0.80, p < 0.008). There is a trend for surgery and WBRT to reduce the number of deaths due to neurological cause odds ratio (OR) 0.57 (95% CI 0.29 to 1.10, p = 0.09). Adverse effects were not found to be statistically more common in any group.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Surgery and WBRT may improve FIS but not overall survival. There is a trend that it may reduce the proportion of deaths due to neurological cause. All these results were in a highly selected group of patients. Operating on metastases does not confer significantly more adverse effects.