Stereotactic radiosurgery versus whole-brain radiotherapy after resection of solitary brain metastasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The 5-factor modified frailty index as a prognostic factor following stereotactic radiosurgery for metastatic disease to the brain from non-small cell lung cancer: A multi-center cohort analysis

BACKGROUND

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients often develop brain metastases (BMs), complicating management. We have shown that increasing frailty is associated with decreased overall survival (OS) and central nervous system progression free survival (PFS) for patients undergoing stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) to BMs. Leveraging the International Radiosurgery Research Foundation, we sought to expand upon these findings, in NSCLC specifically.

METHODS

Across four institutions, 193 patients with (≥1) NSCLC derived BMs with minimum 3 months of clinical/radiographic follow-up were analyzed. Primary outcomes included OS and PFS. Patients were stratified utilizing the mFI-5 into pre-frail (0-1), frail (2), and severely frail (3 + ).

RESULTS

Increased frailty was associated with diminished OS (frail hazard ratio (HR) = 2.49, 95 % CI [1.61-3.85]; severely frail HR = 2.65, 95 % CI [1.57-4.45]). The 6-month post-SRS survival rate was 86.1 %, 69.5 % and 54.5 % for pre-frail, frail and severely frail patients, respectively (p < 0.001). Frailty was not significantly predictive of time to PFS on multivariate Cox Proportional Hazards analysis although there was a trend towards diminished PFS with increasing frailty (median PFS was 18.4, 8.0, and 7.4 months for pre-frail, frail, and severely frail, respectively (p = 0.11). As age > 65 was also predictive of shorter OS (HR = 1.78, 95 % CI [1.23-2.56]). We generated a novel scoring system incorporating age and frailty status. The median survival of patients that scored 0, 1, 2, and 3 points were 21.1, 18.3, 8.9, and 5.6 months, respectively (p < 0.001). The area under the curve of the validation cohort using a logistic regression model was 0.77.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that the MFI-5 is a promising metric with application at the point of care to provide decision support for patients with NSCLC derived BMs.

Stereotactic radiosurgery versus whole-brain radiotherapy for intracranial metastases: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Brain metastasis has a negative influence on the morbidity and mortality of cancer patients. Conventionally, whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) was favored as the standard treatment for brain metastases. However, it has been linked to a significant decline in neuro-cognitive function and poor quality of life. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has recently gained prominence as an alternative modality, considering that it provides targeted high-dose radiation while minimizing adverse effects. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of SRS versus WBRT in patients with intracranial metastases.

Methods

According to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement, through July 2024, we searched PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for articles comparing WBRT and SRS in patients with intracranial metastases. Outcomes included local and distant recurrence, leptomeningeal disease (LMD), and survival. We also used a random-effect model to perform a meta-analysis.

Results

The findings revealed no significant differences in local (risk ratio [RR] = 0.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.46, 1.06]) or distant recurrence rates (RR = 0.83, 95% CI [0.54, 1.28], P = 0.41) between WBRT and SRS. However, SRS was associated with a greater risk of post-radiation LMD (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.09, 95% CI [1.47, 6.49], P = 0.003). Survival rates at 1 year (RR = 1.03, 95% CI [0.83, 1.29], P = 0.76) and 5 years (RR = 0.89, 95% CI [0.39, 2.04], P = 0.78) demonstrated no significant differences.

Conclusion

SRS and WBRT exhibited similar recurrence rates and overall survival (OS) at 1 and 5 years, with WBRT being more effective in managing post-radiation LMD. SRS patients, on the other hand, had longer OS when measured in months.

Brain Metastases from Thyroid Carcinoma: Prognostic Factors and Outcomes

Intracranial metastases from thyroid cancer are rare. Although the prognosis of thyroid cancer patients is generally favorable, the prognosis of patients with intracranial metastases from thyroid cancer has been considered unfavorable owing to lower survival rates among such patients compared to those without intracranial involvement. Many questions about their management remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to analyze the characteristics, treatment modalities, and outcomes of patients with brain metastases from thyroid cancer. Among 4320 patients with thyroid cancer recorded in our institutional database over a 30-year period, the data of 20 patients with brain metastasis were retrospectively collected and analyzed. The clinical characteristics, histological type of primary cancer and metastatic brain tumor, additional previous distant metastasis, treatment modalities, locations and characteristics on radiologic findings, time interval between the first diagnosis of primary thyroid cancer and brain metastasis, and survival were analyzed. Among our patient cohort, the mean age at initial diagnosis was 59.3 ± 14.1 years, and at the manifestation of diagnosis of cerebral metastasis, the mean age was found to be 64.8 ± 14.9 years. The histological types of primary thyroid cancer were identified as papillary in ten patients, follicular in seven, and poorly differentiated carcinoma in three. The average interval between the diagnosis of thyroid cancer and brain metastasis was 63.4 ± 58.4 months (range: 0-180 months). Ten patients were identified as having a single intracranial lesion, and ten patients were found to have multiple lesions. Surgical resection was primarily performed in fifteen patients, and whole-brain radiotherapy, radiotherapy, or tyrosine kinase inhibitors were applied in the remaining five patients. The overall median survival time was 15 months after the diagnosis of BMs from TC (range: 1-252 months). Patients with thyroid cancer can develop brain metastasis even many years after the diagnosis of the primary tumor. The results of our study demonstrate increased overall survival in patients younger than 60 years of age at the time of diagnosis of brain metastasis. There was no difference in survival between patients with brain metastasis from papillary carcinoma and those with follicular thyroid carcinoma.

Single brain metastases - prognostic factors and impact of residual tumor burden on overall survival

Background

Brain metastases (BM) are a common and challenging issue, with their incidence on the rise due to advancements in systemic therapies and increased patient survival. Most patients present with single BM, some of them without any further extracranial metastasis (i.e., solitary BM). The significance of postoperative intracranial tumor volume in the treatment of singular and solitary BM is still debated.

Objective

This study aimed to determine the impact of resection and postoperative tumor burden on overall survival (OS) in patients with single BM.

Methods

Patients with surgically treated single BM between 04/2007-01/2020 were retrospectively included. Residual tumor burden (RTB) was determined by manual segmentation of early postoperative brain MRI (72 h). Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier estimates for univariate analysis and Cox regression proportional hazards model for multivariate analysis, using preoperative Karnofsky performance status scale (KPSS), age, sex, RTB, incomplete resection and singular/solitary BM as covariates.

Results

340 patients were included, median age 64 years (54-71). 119 patients (35%) had solitary BM, 221 (65%) singular BM. Complete resection (RTB=0) was achieved in 73%, median preoperative tumor burden was 11.2 cm3 (5-25), and RTB 0 cm3 (0-0.2). Median OS of patients with singular BM was 13 months (4-33) vs 20 months (5-92) for solitary BM; p=0.062. Multivariate analysis revealed singular BM as independent risk factor for poorer OS: HR 1.840 (1.202-2.817), p=0.005. Complete vs. incomplete resection showed no significant OS difference (13 vs. 13 months, p=0.737). When focusing on solitary BM, complete resection led to a longer OS than incomplete resection (21 vs. 8 months), without statistical significance(p=0.250). Achieving RTB=0 resulted in higher OS for patients with solitary BM compared to singular BM (21 vs. 12 months, p=0.027). Patients who received postoperative radiotherapy (RT) had significantly longer OS compared to those without it (14 vs. 4 months, p<0.001), with favorable OS in those receiving stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) (15 months (3-42), p<0.001) or hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (HSRT).

Conclusion

When complete intracranial tumor resection RTB=0 is achieved, patients with solitary BM have a favorable outcome compared to singular BM. Singular BM was confirmed as independent risk factor. There is a strong presumption that complete resection leads to an improved oncological prognosis. Patients with solitary BM tend to benefit with a favorable outcome following complete resection. Hence, surgical resection should be considered as a treatment option for patients presenting with either no or minimal extracranial disease. Furthermore, the highly favorable impact of postoperative RT on OS was demonstrated and confirmed, especially with SRS or HSRT.