Medical management of patients with brain tumors

Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines on the Role of Steroids in the Treatment of Adults With Metastatic Brain Tumors

QUESTION

Do steroids improve neurological symptoms and/or quality of life in patients with metastatic brain tumors compared to supportive care only or other treatment options? If steroids are given, what dose should be used?

TARGET POPULATION

These recommendations apply to adults diagnosed with brain metastases.

RECOMMENDATIONS

STEROID THERAPY VERSUS NO STEROID THERAPYAsymptomatic brain metastases patients without mass effectInsufficient evidence exists to make a treatment recommendation for this clinical scenario.Brain metastases patients with mild symptoms related to mass effect Level 3: Corticosteroids are recommended to provide temporary symptomatic relief of symptoms related to increased intracranial pressure and edema secondary to brain metastases. It is recommended for patients who are symptomatic from metastatic disease to the brain that a starting dose of 4 to 8 mg/d of dexamethasone be considered.Brain metastases patients with moderate to severe symptoms related to mass effect Level 3: Corticosteroids are recommended to provide temporary symptomatic relief of symptoms related to increased intracranial pressure and edema secondary to brain metastases. If patients exhibit severe symptoms consistent with increased intracranial pressure, it is recommended that higher doses such as 16 mg/d or more be considered.

CHOICE OF STEROID

Level 3: If corticosteroids are given, dexamethasone is the best drug choice given the available evidence.Duration of Corticosteroid Administration Level 3: Corticosteroids, if given, should be tapered as rapidly as possible but no faster than clinically tolerated, based upon an individualized treatment regimen and a full understanding of the long-term sequelae of corticosteroid therapy.Given the very limited number of studies (2) which met the eligibility criteria for the systematic review, these are the only recommendations that can be offered based on this methodology.The full guideline can be found at https://www.cns.org/guidelines/guidelines-treatment-adults-metastatic-brain-tumors/chapter_7.

Ultrasensitive System for Electrophysiology of Cancer Cell Populations: A Review

Bioelectricity is the electrical activity produced by living organisms. Understanding the role of bioelectricity in a disease context is important as it contributes to both disease diagnosis and therapeutic intervention. Electrophysiology tools work well for neuronal cultures; however, they are limited in their ability to detect the electrical activity of non-neuronal cells, wherein the majority of cancers arise. Electronic structures capable of detecting and modulating signaling, in real-time, in electrically quiescent cells are urgently required. One of the limitations to understanding the role of bioelectricity in cancer is the inability to detect low-level signals. In this study, we review our latest advances in devising bidirectional transducers with large electrode areas and concomitant low impedances. The resulting high sensitivity is demonstrated by the extracellular detection of electrical activity in Rat-C6 glioma and prostate cancer (PC-3) cell populations. By using specific inhibitors, we further demonstrated that the large electrical activity in Rat-C6 glioma populations is acidosis driven. For PC-3 cells, the use of a calcium inhibitor together with the slowly varying nature of the signal suggests that Ca²⁺ channels are involved in the cohort electrogenicity.

Incidence, risk factors and outcomes of seizures occurring after craniotomy for primary brain tumor resection

Objective:

To determine the incidence, risk factors and outcomes of early post-craniotomy seizures.

Method:

This was a retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent craniotomy for primary brain tumor resection (2002-2011) and admitted postoperatively to the intensive care unit. The patients were divided into 2 groups depending on the occurrence of seizures within 7 days.

Results:

One-hundred-ninety-three patients were studied: 35.8% had preoperative seizure history and 16.6% were on prophylactic antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Twenty-seven (14%) patients had post-craniotomy seizures. The tumors were mostly meningiomas (63% for the post-craniotomy seizures group versus 58.1% for the other group; p=0.63) and supratentorial (92.6% for the post-craniotomy seizures versus 78.4% for the other group, p=0.09) with tumor diameter=3.7±1.5 versus 4.2±1.6 cm, (p=0.07). One (3.1%) of the 32 patients on prophylactic AEDs had post-craniotomy seizures compared with 12% of the 92 patients not receiving AEDs preoperatively (p=0.18). On multivariate analysis, predictors of post-craniotomy seizures were preoperative seizures (odds ratio, 2.62; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-6.15) and smaller tumor size <4 cm (odds ratio, 2.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-6.25). Post-craniotomy seizures were not associated with increased morbidity or mortality.

Conclusion:

Early seizures were common after craniotomy for primary brain tumor resection, but were not associated with worse outcomes. Preoperative seizures and smaller tumor size were independent risk factors.

The effectiveness of EGFR-TKIs against brain metastases in EGFR mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer

Brain metastases are usual in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with poor prognosis and few available therapeutic options. This retrospective study aims to evaluate the efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) against brain metastases from NSCLC harboring activating EGFR mutation. A total of 148 patients with brain metastases from EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were orally given gefitinib (250 mg) or erlotinib (150 mg) once a day until intracranial disease progression, death, or intolerable side effects. A survival analysis was done using the Kaplan–Meier analysis and log-rank test. Objective response rate and disease control rate within brain lesions were 36.5% and 87.2%, respectively, with a median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of 11.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 10.1–12.3) and 13.6 months (95% CI, 12.3–14.9), respectively. The patients’ characteristics were not statistically associated with PFS and OS. EGFR-TKIs showed promising antitumor activity against brain metastases in NSCLC patients with activating EGFR mutation and might be the treatment choice in this clinical setting.

Use of benzodiazepine and risk of cancer: A meta-analysis of observational studies

Several observational epidemiological studies have reported inconsistent results on the association between the use of benzodiazepine and the risk of cancer. We investigated the association by using a meta-analysis. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the bibliographies of relevant articles to locate additional publications in January 2016. Three evaluators independently reviewed and selected eligible studies based on predetermined selection criteria. Of 796 articles meeting our initial criteria, a total of 22 observational epidemiological studies with 18 case-control studies and 4 cohort studies were included in the final analysis. Benzodiazepine use was significantly associated with an increased risk of cancer (odds ratio [OR] or relative risk [RR] 1.19; 95% confidence interval 1.16-1.21) in a random-effects meta-analysis of all studies. Subgroup meta-analyses by various factors such as study design, type of case-control study, study region, and methodological quality of study showed consistent findings. Also, a significant dose-response relationship was observed between the use of benzodiazepine and the risk of cancer (p for trend <0.01). The current meta-analysis of observational epidemiological studies suggests that benzodiazepine use is associated with an increased risk of cancer.

Comparison of erlotinib and pemetrexed as second-/third-line treatment for lung adenocarcinoma patients with asymptomatic brain metastases

Objective

Brain metastases occur in one-third of all non-small-cell lung cancer patients. Due to restrictive transport at the blood–brain barrier, many drugs provide poor control of metastases in the brain. The aim of this study was to compare erlotinib with pemetrexed as second-/third-line treatment in patients with lung adenocarcinoma with asymptomatic brain metastases.

Methods

From January 2012 to June 2014, all lung adenocarcinoma patients with asymptomatic brain metastases who received treatment with erlotinib or pemetrexed as second-/third-line treatment were retrospectively reviewed. Chi-square and log-rank tests were used to perform statistical analysis.

Results

The study enrolled 99 patients, of which 44 were positive for EGFR mutation. Median progression-free survival (PFS) in months was not significantly different between the erlotinib- and pemetrexed-treated groups (4.2 vs 3.4 months; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.01–6.40 vs 2.80–5.00, respectively; P=0.635). Median PFS was found to be significantly longer in EGFR mutation–positive patients in the erlotinib-treated group (8.0 months; 95% CI 5.85–10.15) compared to the pemetrexed group (3.9 months; 95% CI: 1.25–6.55; P=0.032). The most common treatment-related side effect was mild-to-moderate rash and the most common drug-related side effects in the pemetrexed-group were vomiting and nausea.

Conclusion

Erlotinib and pemetrexed may be used as second-/third-line treatment in lung adenocarcinoma patients with asymptomatic brain metastases, and detection of EGFR mutation status is very important in these patients. EGFR mutation–positive lung adenocarcinoma patients with asymptomatic brain metastases showed longer PFS when treated with erlotinib as opposed to pemetrexed.

Treating glioblastoma in the elderly

The incidence of glioblastoma (GBM) is increasing among the elderly, who now account for up to half of all the adult cases of GBM. This trend has resulted in the recent development of clinical research specifically dedicated to this fragile population. Some studies have investigated surgical resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy with temozolomide, and ongoing research is currently addressing the use of combined radiochemotherapy in this population. Although older patients with GBM have a significantly worse life expectancy compared with their younger counterparts, etiologic treatments should not be withheld from these patients solely because of their age. On the contrary, results from prospective studies suggest that active care of these patients has a significant positive impact on survival without affecting quality of life or cognition. To optimize both symptomatic and etiologic treatment, neuro-oncology multidisciplinary teams must take into account performance and cognitive status, the resectability of the tumor, and associated comorbidities.

Management of elderly patients with gliomas

The current progressive aging of the population is resulting in a continuous increase in the incidence of gliomas in elderly people, especially the most frequent subtype, glioblastoma (GBM). This sociohealth shift, known as the "silver tsunami," has prompted the neuro-oncology community to investigate the role of specific antitumor treatments, such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and other targeted therapies, for these traditionally undertreated patients. Advanced age, a widely recognized poor prognostic factor in both low-grade glioma (LGG) and high-grade glioma patients, should no longer be the sole reason for excluding such older patients from receiving etiologic treatments. Far from it, results from recent prospective trials conducted on elderly patients with GBM demonstrate that active management of these patients can have a positive impact on survival without impairing either cognition or quality of life. Although prospective studies specifically addressing the management of grade 2 and 3 gliomas are lacking and thus needed, the aforementioned tendency toward acknowledging a therapeutic benefit for GBM patients might also apply to the treatment of patients with LGG and anaplastic gliomas. In order to optimize such etiologic treatment in conjunction with symptomatic management, neuro-oncology multidisciplinary boards must individually consider important features such as resectability of the tumor, functional and cognitive status, associated comorbidities, and social support.

Impact of health-related quality of life and fatigue on survival of recurrent high-grade glioma patients

Quality of life (QoL) impairment and fatigue are frequently experienced during treatment for recurrent high-grade glioma (HGG). Fatigue and QoL impairments can be due to primary neurological dysfunction, cytotoxic treatments, mood disturbances, and supportive medications. We now seek to understand how QoL and fatigue impacts survival in recurrent HGG. Using a prospective observational design, 237 patients with recurrent HGG and KPS ≥70 completed a self-administered questionnaire that evaluated QoL and fatigue. QoL was assessed with Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) and FACT-Brain (FACT-Br) scales while fatigue was assessed using Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT-F) scale. Cox proportional hazard models were utilized to evaluate the association between QoL and fatigue and survival. Seventy-three (31 %) subjects had recurrent WHO grade III gliomas and 164 (69 %) had recurrent WHO grade IV gliomas. Median follow-up analysis was 27.60 months. In univariate Cox analyses, the FACT-Br specific subscale (HR 0.88; CI 95 %, 0.77-1; p = 0.048) and FACIT-F (HR 0.82; CI 95 %, 0.68-0.99; p = 0.045) were both significant predictors of survival. Fatigue added prognostic information beyond that provided by KPS, age, sex, tumor grade, and number of prior progressions (HR 0.80; CI 95 %, 0.68-0.9; p = 0.031). A greater degree of fatigue was associated with poorer survival in recurrent HGG patients. In multivariable analyses, FACT-G and FACT-Br are not independent predictors of prognosis. Fatigue is a strong independent predictor of survival that provides incremental prognostic value to the traditional markers of prognosis in recurrent HGG. Pharmacological or non-pharmacological strategies to treat fatigue warrant investigation.

Efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy in cancer-related psychiatric disorders across the trajectory of cancer care: a review

At least 25-30% of patients with cancer and an even higher percentage of patients in an advanced phase of illness meet the criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis, including depression, anxiety, stress-related syndromes, adjustment disorders, sleep disorders and delirium. A number of studies have accumulated over the last 35 years on the use of psychotropic drugs as a pillar in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Major advances in psycho-oncology research have also shown the efficacy of psychotropic drugs as adjuvant treatment of cancer-related symptoms, such as pain, hot flushes, pruritus, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and cognitive impairment. The knowledge about pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, clinical use, safety, side effects and efficacy of psychotropic drugs in cancer care is essential for an integrated and multidimensional approach to patients treated in different settings, including community-based centres, oncology, and palliative care. A search of the major databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycLIT, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library) was conducted in order to summarize relevant data concerning the efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy for cancer-related psychiatric disorders in cancer patients across the trajectory of the disease.

Psychopharmacology in psycho-oncology

Psychopharmacological intervention is a major clinical and research area in oncology and palliative care. Over the last 35 years, psychotropic drugs have been shown to have a number of important indications for the treatment of the most common psychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety, stress-related syndromes, severe adjustment disorders, sleep disorders and delirium, which combined affect at least 30-40% of patients with cancer and even a higher percentage of patients in an advanced phase of illness. The availability of new drugs, with less side-effects and safer pharmacological profiles, has been a major advance in clinical psycho-oncology. Interestingly, several drugs have also been found to be helpful for the adjuvant treatment of cancer-related symptoms, such as pain, hot flashes, pruritus, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and cognitive impairment, making psychopharmacology an important tool for the improvement of cancer patients' quality of life. The aim of this paper is to summarize recent relevant data concerning the use of psychotropic drugs, namely antidepressants, anxiolytics, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants and psychostimulants in patients with cancer.

Hypoxic cell waves around necrotic cores in glioblastoma: a biomathematical model and its therapeutic implications

Glioblastoma is a rapidly evolving high-grade astrocytoma that is distinguished pathologically from lower grade gliomas by the presence of necrosis and microvascular hyperplasia. Necrotic areas are typically surrounded by hypercellular regions known as "pseudopalisades" originated by local tumor vessel occlusions that induce collective cellular migration events. This leads to the formation of waves of tumor cells actively migrating away from central hypoxia. We present a mathematical model that incorporates the interplay among two tumor cell phenotypes, a necrotic core and the oxygen distribution. Our simulations reveal the formation of a traveling wave of tumor cells that reproduces the observed histologic patterns of pseudopalisades. Additional simulations of the model equations show that preventing the collapse of tumor microvessels leads to slower glioma invasion, a fact that might be exploited for therapeutic purposes.

Medical care of patients with brain tumors

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Patients with brain tumors require close attention to medical issues resulting from their disease or its therapy. Effective medical management results in decreased morbidity and mortality and improved quality of life. The most frequent neurology-related issues that arise in these patients include seizures, peritumoral edema, venous thromboembolism, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction. This article focuses on the most recent findings for the management of the most relevant medical complications among patients with brain tumors.

RECENT FINDINGS

Increasing evidence suggests that anticoagulation in patients with thromboembolic complications is safe even when they are receiving antiangiogenic therapy. There are also increasing data to support the use of newer, non-enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs, which have the advantage of lacking interactions with antineoplastic agents and are as effective as their older counterparts at preventing seizures. Relatively few studies have addressed the management of fatigue and depression, and definitive recommendations cannot be made.

SUMMARY

Corticosteroids to treat vasogenic edema should be used at the minimum amount required to control symptoms and should be tapered as quickly as possible. Anticonvulsants should be used only if patients have had seizures. Non-enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs are preferred to minimize interactions with concurrently administered chemotherapy. Thromboembolic complications are common and are preferably treated with low-molecular-weight heparins. Only patients with hemorrhagic complications require an inferior vena cava filter. Cognitive deficits are frequent in patients with brain tumors and include problems such as poor short-term memory, distractibility, personality change, emotional lability, loss of executive function, and decreased psychomotor speed. Stimulants can help to improve these symptoms.