Prophylactic cranial irradiation in extensive small-cell lung cancer

Prevention of Brain Metastases: A New Frontier

This review discusses the topic of prevention of brain metastases from the most frequent solid tumor types, i.e., lung cancer, breast cancer and melanoma. Within each tumor type, the risk of brain metastasis is related to disease status and molecular subtype (i.e., EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer, HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer, BRAF and NRAF-mutant melanoma). Prophylactic cranial irradiation is the standard of care in patients in small cell lung cancer responsive to chemotherapy but at the price of late neurocognitive decline. More recently, several molecular agents with the capability to target molecular alterations driving tumor growth have proven as effective in the prevention of secondary relapse into the brain in clinical trials. This is the case for EGFR-mutant or ALK-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer inhibitors, tucatinib and trastuzumab-deruxtecan for HER2-positive breast cancer and BRAF inhibitors for melanoma. The need for screening with an MRI in asymptomatic patients at risk of brain metastases is emphasized.

Predicting overall survival and prophylactic cranial irradiation benefit in small-cell lung cancer with CT-based deep learning: A retrospective multicenter study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To develop a computed tomography (CT)-based deep learning model to predict overall survival (OS) among small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients and identify patients who could benefit from prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) based on OS signature risk stratification.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study retrospectively included 556 SCLC patients from three medical centers. The training, internal validation, and external validation cohorts comprised 309, 133, and 114 patients, respectively. The OS signature was built using a unified fully connected neural network. A deep learning model was developed based on the OS signature. Clinical and combined models were developed and compared with a deep learning model. Additionally, the benefits of PCI were evaluated after stratification using an OS signature.

RESULTS

Within the internal and external validation cohorts, the deep learning model (concordance index [C-index] 0.745, 0.733) was far superior to the clinical model (C-index: 0.635, 0.630) in predicting OS, but slightly worse than the combined model (C-index: 0.771, 0.770). Additionally, the deep learning model had excellent calibration, clinical usefulness, and improved accuracy in classifying survival outcomes. Remarkably, patients at high risk had a survival benefit from PCI in both the limited and extensive stages (all P < 0.05), whereas no significant association was observed in patients at low risk.

CONCLUSIONS

The CT-based deep learning model exhibited promising performance in predicting the OS of SCLC patients. The OS signature may aid in individualized treatment planning to select patients who may benefit from PCI.

Therapeutic Patterns and Clinical Outcomes in Limited Disease Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Decade of Analysis at a Tertiary Cancer Center

In this study, we investigated the outcomes and factors influencing treatment efficacy in 93 patients with limited disease small cell lung cancer (LD-SCLC), with a median age of 64 years. We focused on the impact of chemotherapy regimens, prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI), and patient-related variables. The median follow-up for OS was 17.3 months. We observed a statistically significant difference in PFS between LD-SCLC patients treated with cisplatin and etoposide (EP) and those treated with carboplatin and etoposide (CP) (PFS: EP 13.63 months vs. CP 6.54 months, p < 0.01). Patients treated with EP had better overall survival (OS) than CP-treated patients (OS: EP 26.9 months vs. CP 16.16 months, p < 0.01). Concomitant chemotherapy was associated with improved PFS (p = 0.003) and OS (p = 0.002). Patients receiving PCI showed superior OS (p = 0.05) and a trend towards improved PFS (p = 0.057). Female gender was associated with better OS (p = 0.025). Most patients had an ECOG performance status of 0 (71%). This real-world study underscores the importance of multidisciplinary LD-SCLC management, emphasizing the roles of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and PCI. These findings inform personalized treatment strategies and emphasize the need for prospective trials to validate these results and optimize LD-SCLC treatment.

Rational and design of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) and brain MRI surveillance versus brain MRI surveillance alone in patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer achieving complete remission (CR) of tumor after chemoradiotherapy: a multicenter prospective randomized study

BACKGROUND

Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) is part of standard care in limited-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) at present. As evidence from retrospective studies increases, the benefits of PCI for limited-stage SCLC are being challenged.

METHODS

A multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled study was designed. The key inclusion criteria were: histologically or cytologically confirmed small cell carcinoma, age ≥ 18 years, KPS ≥ 80, limited-stage is defined as tumor confined to one side of the chest including ipsilateral hilar, bilateral mediastinum and supraclavicular lymph nodes, patients have received definitive thoracic radiotherapy (regardless of the dose-fractionation of radiotherapy used) and chemotherapy, evaluated as complete remission (CR) of tumor 4-6 weeks after the completion of chemo-radiotherapy. Eligible patients will be randomly assigned to two arms: (1) PCI and brain MRI surveillance arm, receiving PCI (2.5 Gy qd to a total dose of 25 Gy in two weeks) followed by brain MRI surveillance once every three months for two years; (2) brain MRI surveillance alone arm, undergoing brain MRI surveillance once every three months for two years. The primary objective is to compare the 2-year brain metastasis-free survival (BMFS) rates between the two arms. Secondary objectives include 2-year overall survival (OS) rates, intra-cranial failure patterns, 2-year progression-free survival rates and neurotoxicity. In case of brain metastasis (BM) detect during follow-up, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) will be recommended if patients meet the eligibility criteria.

DISCUSSION

Based on our post-hoc analysis of a prospective study, we hypothesize that in limited-stage SCLC patients with CR after definitive chemoradiotherapy, and ruling out of BM by MRI, it would be feasible to use brain MRI surveillance and omit PCI in these patients. If BM is detected during follow-up, treatment with SRS or whole brain radiotherapy does not appear to have a detrimental effect on OS. Additionally, this approach may reduce potential neurotoxicity associated with PCI.

Patterns of Immunoreactivity with TTF-1 Antibodies 8G7G3/1 and SPT24 Suggest Distinct Immunoprofiles Between Most Pulmonary and Nonpulmonary Small Cell Carcinomas

Introduction. Small cell carcinoma can arise from various sites. Herein, we analyze the ability of 2 thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) antibodies (SPT24 and 8G7G3/1) to separate pulmonary from nonpulmonary small cell carcinoma. Materials and Methods. We analyzed 26 pulmonary and 83 nonpulmonary small cell carcinomas, and 14 Merkel cell carcinomas. Each tumor was stained with SPT24 and 8G7G3/1. Extent of nuclear staining was scored as diffuse (>50%), focal (11%-50%), rare (1%-10%), or negative (<1%). Results. All pulmonary small cell carcinomas were positive for SPT24 and 8G7G3/1. Four Merkel cell carcinomas (29%) were positive for SPT24 (ranging from rare-to-diffuse), while 2 (14%) showed rare expression with 8G7G3/1. For nonpulmonary small cell carcinomas, 69 (83%) were positive for SPT24 and 40 (48%) were positive for 8G7G3/1. For SPT24 positive tumors, the extent of 8G7G3/1 expression was equal in 17 (25%) and less in 52 tumors (75%), including 29 (42%) that were negative for 8G7G3/1. No nonpulmonary small cell carcinoma had more staining with 8G7G3/1 compared to SPT24. The differences in staining between 8G7G3/1 and SPT24 in the nonpulmonary cohort were statistically significant (P < 0.0001) with no significant difference between primary and metastatic lesions for 8G7G3/1 (P  =  0.66) or SPT24 (P  =  0.77). Conclusion. Most pulmonary small cell carcinomas are diffusely positive for both SPT24 and 8G7G3/1, whereas most nonpulmonary small cell carcinomas exhibit focal-to-no staining with 8G7G3/1 and significantly less staining with 8G7G3/1 compared to SPT24. However, these trends are not absolute and should be interpreted in conjunction with clinical and radiological findings.

Molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of tumour suppressor genes in lung cancer

Tumour suppressor genes play a cardinal role in the development of a large array of human cancers, including lung cancer, which is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers worldwide. Therefore, extensive studies have been committed to deciphering the underlying mechanisms of alterations of tumour suppressor genes in governing tumourigenesis, as well as resistance to cancer therapies. In spite of the encouraging clinical outcomes demonstrated by lung cancer patients on initial treatment, the subsequent unresponsiveness to first-line treatments manifested by virtually all the patients is inherently a contentious issue. In light of the aforementioned concerns, this review compiles the current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of some of the tumour suppressor genes implicated in lung cancer that are either frequently mutated and/or are located on the chromosomal arms having high LOH rates (1p, 3p, 9p, 10q, 13q, and 17p). Our study identifies specific genomic loci prone to LOH, revealing a recurrent pattern in lung cancer cases. These loci, including 3p14.2 (FHIT), 9p21.3 (p16INK4a), 10q23 (PTEN), 17p13 (TP53), exhibit a higher susceptibility to LOH due to environmental factors such as exposure to DNA-damaging agents (carcinogens in cigarette smoke) and genetic factors such as chromosomal instability, genetic mutations, DNA replication errors, and genetic predisposition. Furthermore, this review summarizes the current treatment landscape and advancements for lung cancers, including the challenges and endeavours to overcome it. This review envisages inspired researchers to embark on a journey of discovery to add to the list of what was known in hopes of prompting the development of effective therapeutic strategies for lung cancer.

Recent advances and future strategies in first-line treatment of ES-SCLC

Recent advancements in treating extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) have been significantly marked by incorporating immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) into platinum-based chemotherapy, leading to modest yet notable improvements in patient outcomes, which become more evident with longer follow-up. However, critical challenges persist, such as identifying effective biomarkers for accurate patient selection or finding more effective drugs. This review delves into the current and evolving treatment landscape for ES-SCLC, focusing on the most promising therapeutic strategies under investigation. We discuss the latest developments in the use of newer ICIs, antiangiogenic agents, PARP inhibitors (PARPi), lurbinectedin, and anti-DLL3 agents, offering insights into potential future directions in the management of this aggressive cancer.

A Multicenter Study Assessing the Real-World Use and Effectiveness of First-Line Chemotherapy Plus Immunotherapy in Advanced Small-Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) Patients

BACKGROUND

First-line chemotherapy plus immunotherapy (CT-IO) has recently demonstrated survival benefits over CT alone in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), based on randomized phase III studies. This retrospective multicenter study assessed the real-world use and effectiveness of CT-IO in ES-SCLC patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All newly diagnosed ES-SCLC patients from 4 French hospitals treated with CT alone or CT-IO between May 2020 and December 2021 were included. Overall survival (OS) and real-world progression-free survival (rwPFS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazard models were performed to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) in univariate and multivariate models. The aim was not to compare efficacy between groups.

RESULTS

Among 104 patients, 75 (72.1%) received CT-IO. Brain metastases were diagnosed in 28.3% of patients, and 29.8% were performance status (PS) ≥ 2. At a median follow-up of 16.8 months (95%CI, 14.9-23.4), the median OS was 11.4 months (95%CI, 7.7-14.7) in the CT-IO group, and the 12-month OS rate was 43.6% (95%CI, 33.3-57.2). In the CT group, the median OS was 7.8 months (95%CI, 5.4-11.8) and the 12-month OS rate was 15.3% (95%CI, 5.7-41.0). In multivariate analyses, baseline brain and liver metastases were associated with a shorter OS for patients treated in the CT-IO group (HR, 3.80 [95%CI, 1.90-7.60] and 3.12 [95%CI, 1.60-6.08] respectively; P < 0.001 for both).

CONCLUSION

We showed that clinicians have chosen to use IO beyond the specific criteria defined in guidelines. Survival data appeared promising with a median OS comparable to the one previously demonstrated in clinical trials.

Hippocampal region avoidance in whole brain radiotherapy in brain metastases: For all or for some? A real-world feasibility report

PURPOSE

Hippocampal sparing whole-brain radiotherapy (HS-WBRT) showed significantly lower long-term side effects compared to standard WBRT. Aim of this study is to describe a HS-WBRT real-world monoinstitutional experience within a retrospective cohort.

METHODS

Patients who completed HS-WBRT course, with Karnofsky Performance Status ⩾ 60 and radiological diagnosis of brain metastases (BMs) were enrolled. Treatment was performed using helical Tomotherapy scheduled in 30 Gy in 10 or 12 fractions or 25 Gy in 10 fractions. Oncological outcomes were clinically and radiologically assessed every three months. Toxicity was graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events 4.3.

RESULTS

One hundred and nineteen patients from 2016 to 2020 met inclusion criteria; after a median follow-up of 18 months, 29 patients were alive; 6- and 12-months overall survival rates were 66% and 41%, respectively. HS-WBRT response was assessed for 72 patients. Median time to any progression and intracranial failure (IF) was 4.5 and 13.7 months, respectively. The 6- and 12-month IF rates were 85% and 57%. Among 40 patients (34%) who experienced IF, 17 (42%) were oligometastatic, 23 (58%) polymetastatic and 15/40 developed IF within the hippocampi avoidance zone. No grade (G) ⩾ 2 acute toxicities were reported and one G2 (dizziness) late toxicity was described.

CONCLUSIONS

HS-WBRT is well tolerated, and despite the hippocampal sparing region, the oncological control is satisfying. Further investigation is warranted to find patients who could most benefit from a HS-WBRT approach.

Radiotherapy in the management of synchronous metastatic lung cancer

Metastatic lung cancer classically portends a poor prognosis. The management of metastatic lung cancer has dramatically changed with the emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors, targeted therapy and due to a better understanding of the oligometastatic process. In metastatic lung cancers, radiation therapy which was only used with palliative intent for decades, represents today a promising way to treat primary and oligometastatic sites with a curative intent. Herein we present through a literature review the role of radiotherapy in the management of synchronous metastatic lung cancers.

Second-Line Treatment Options for Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Light at the End of the Tunnel

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a subtype of lung tumor characterized by rapid growth and early metastatic dissemination. It represents approximately 15% of all diagnosed lung cancers, with an annual incidence of over 200,000 cases worldwide. At the time of initial diagnosis, approximately 75-80% of patients already have extrathoracic spread. Almost all patients with SCLC also relapse after achieving a complete response with first-line treatment. Outcomes achievable in second-line treatment are related to the length of time between completion of first-line therapy and disease progression. While first-line chemo-immunotherapy remains the standard of care for initial management, the role of second-line treatment strategies in SCLC has been a topic of significant research and discussion. Second-line treatment options are limited and the results are still disappointing. Several molecules are currently being studied in lines following the first, using immunological targets and cell cycle checkpoints. Among these, particular interest has been placed on anti-PD-1 (programmed cell death-1 protein) and anti-PD-L1 (programmed cell death-ligand 1) monoclonal antibodies, and DLL3 (Delta-like ligand 3), which are being evaluated alone or in combination. Tarlatamab is a novel promising therapeutic antibody currently under investigation for its potential use in previously treated SCLC patients. This mini-review will explore the current state of second-line treatment options for SCLC, their clinical efficacy, and future directions.

Re-examining prophylactic cranial irradiation in small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) are at high risk for brain metastases. Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) is recommended in this population to reduce the incidence of brain metastases and prolong survival. We aimed to assesses the efficacy of PCI in this population in the era of routine brain imaging. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the use among patients who were radiographically confirmed not to have brain metastases after completion of first-line therapy.

Methods

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, cohort studies and controlled trials reporting on the use of PCI for patients SCLC were identified in EMBASE, MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and grey literature sources. The literature search was conducted on November 12, 2023. Summary data were extracted. Random-effects meta-analyses pooled hazard ratios (HR) for the primary outcome of overall survival between PCI and no intervention groups. This study is registered with the Open Science Framework, DOI:10.17605/OSF.IO/BC359, and PROSPERO, CRD42021249466.

Findings

Of 4318 identified records, 223 were eligible for inclusion. 109 reported on overall survival in formats amenable to meta-analysis; PCI was associated with longer survival in all patients with SCLC (HR 0.59; 95% CI, 0.55-0.63; p < 0.001; n = 56,770 patients), patients with limited stage disease (HR 0.60; 95% CI, 0.55-0.65; p < 0.001; n = 78 studies; n = 27,137 patients), and patients with extensive stage disease (HR 0.59; 95% CI, 0.51-0.70; p < 0.001; n = 28 studies; n = 26,467 patients). Between-study heterogeneity was significant when pooled amongst all studies (I2 = 73.6%; 95% CI 68.4%-77.9%). Subgroup analysis did not reveal sources of heterogeneity. In a subgroup analysis on studies that used magnetic resonance imaging to exclude presence of brain metastases at restaging among all patients, overall survival did not differ significantly between patients who did or did not receive PCI (HR 0.74; 95% CI, 0.52-1.05; p = 0.08; n = 9 studies; n = 1384 patients).

Interpretation

Our findings suggested that administration of PCI is associated with a survival benefit, but not when considering studies that radiographically confirmed absence of brain metastases, suggesting that the survival benefit conferred by PCI might be therapeutic rather than prophylactic.

Funding

No funding.

Dosimetric comparison of helical tomotherapy and volumetric modulated arc therapy in hippocampal avoidance whole-brain radiotherapy

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to discuss the dosimetric advantages of helical tomotherapy (HT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) technology in hippocampal avoidance whole-brain radiotherapy and provide references for clinical selection of ideal radiotherapy technology.

METHODS

A total of 20 patients with hippocampal avoidance whole-brain radiotherapy were chosen randomly. Computed tomography (CT) and MRI scanning images were input into the treatment planning system (TPS). After the CT and enhanced magnetic resonance T1 weighted images were fused and registered, the same radiation therapy physician was invited to outline the tumor target volume. PTV-HS refers to the whole brain subtracted by 5 mm outward expansion of the hippocampus (HP). The prescribed dose was 30 Gy/10 fractions. HT and VMAT plans were designed for each patient in accordance with PTV. Under the premise that the 95% isodose curve covers the PTV, dose-volume histogram was applied to evaluate the PTV, conformal index (CI), heterogeneity index (HI), maximum dose (Dmax), mean dose (Dmean), minimum dose (Dmin) and absorbed doses of organs at risk (OARs) in HT and VMAT plans. Paired t-test was performed to compare the differences between two radiation therapy plans, and p  <  0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

These two plans had no significant difference in PTV-HS (max, min, and mean). However, the HI and CI of the HT plan were significantly better than those of the VMAT plan, showing statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). The HT plan was significantly superior to the VMAT plan in terms of the Dmax, Dmin, and Dmean of HP, left and right eye lens, left and right eye, and spinal cord, showing statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). The HT plan was also better than the VMAT plan in terms of the Dmax of the left optic nerve. However, the two plans showed no obvious differences in terms of the absorbed doses of the right optic nerve and brainstem, without statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with the VMAT plan of hippocampal avoidance, HT technology has significant dosimetric advantages. HT plans significantly decreased the radiation dose and radiation volume of OARs surrounding the target area (e.g., surrounding eye lens and eye, especially hippocampal avoidance area) while increasing the CI and HI of PTV dose in whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) greatly, thus enabling the decrease in the incidence rate of radioactive nerve function impairment.

PAK3 downregulation induces cognitive impairment following cranial irradiation

Cranial irradiation is used for prophylactic brain radiotherapy as well as the treatment of primary brain tumors. Despite its high efficiency, it often induces unexpected side effects, including cognitive dysfunction. Herein, we observed that mice exposed to cranial irradiation exhibited cognitive dysfunction, including altered spontaneous behavior, decreased spatial memory, and reduced novel object recognition. Analysis of the actin cytoskeleton revealed that ionizing radiation (IR) disrupted the filamentous/globular actin (F/G-actin) ratio and downregulated the actin turnover signaling pathway p21-activated kinase 3 (PAK3)-LIM kinase 1 (LIMK1)-cofilin. Furthermore, we found that IR could upregulate microRNA-206-3 p (miR-206-3 p) targeting PAK3. As the inhibition of miR-206-3 p through antagonist (antagomiR), IR-induced disruption of PAK3 signaling is restored. In addition, intranasal administration of antagomiR-206-3 p recovered IR-induced cognitive impairment in mice. Our results suggest that cranial irradiation-induced cognitive impairment could be ameliorated by regulating PAK3 through antagomiR-206-3 p, thereby affording a promising strategy for protecting cognitive function during cranial irradiation, and promoting quality of life in patients with radiation therapy.

The Era of Immunotherapy in Small-Cell Lung Cancer: More Shadows Than Light?

Small-cell lung cancer is an extremely chemo-sensitive disease; the addition of immunotherapy to chemotherapy has demonstrated a slight clinical benefit in pivotal trials, even with a statistically significant difference in terms of survival outcomes when compared to chemotherapy alone. In this scenario, the role of radiotherapy as a consolidation treatment in thoracic disease or as a prophylactic therapy in the brain should be clarified. In addition, due to the frailty and the poor prognostic characteristics of these patients, the need for predictive biomarkers that could support the use of immunotherapy is crucial. PD-L1 and TMB are not actually considered definitive biomarkers due to the heterogeneity of results in the literature. A new molecular classification of small-cell lung cancer based on the expression of key transcription factors seems to clarify the disease behavior, but the knowledge of this molecular subtype is still insufficient and the application in clinical practice far from reality; this classification could lead to a better understanding of SCLC disease and could provide the right direction for more personalized treatment. The aim of this review is to investigate the current knowledge in this field, evaluating whether there are predictive biomarkers and clinical patient characteristics that could help us to identify those patients who are more likely to respond to immunotherapy.

The Impact of Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation and Consolidative Thoracic Radiation Therapy for Extensive Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer in the Transition to the Chemo-Immunotherapy Era: A Single Institution Series

INTRODUCTION

Extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) continues to have poor survival due to its aggressive behavior, despite improvements with incorporation of immunotherapy with standard chemotherapy. Controversy exists regarding the role of consolidative thoracic radiation therapy (TRT) and prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) in ES-SCLC due to high recurrence rates. We report our institutional result of the benefit of PCI and TRT in ES-SCLC.

METHODS

Patients with ES-SCLC without intracranial metastasis at diagnosis (N = 163) were included. All patients completed systemic therapy with or without immunotherapy based on time of standard of care. Cohorts were divided by systemic therapy use and further subdivided by treatment with PCI and TRT. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank test for comparison. The effects of TRT and PCI were estimated by multivariable (MVA) Cox regression.

RESULTS

Seventy-four patients (45.4%) received TRT, and 33.1% (n = 54) received PCI. The median follow-up was 11 months (3-85 months). PCI improved median OS to 15 months from 10 months, P = .02) and median PFS to 8.5 months from 5 months (P = .02) which remained significant on MVA, P = .02 and P = .02, respectively. TRT improved OS on UVA (P = 0.002) but was not significant on MVA. TRT did not improve PFS.

CONCLUSION

This study including chemotherapy and chemo-immunotherapy suggests improved outcomes with addition of PCI in patients with ES-SCLC while TRT did not show benefit to either OS or PFS. A future trial is needed to evaluate the role of TRT and PCI in the era of chemo-immunotherapy.

Dosimetric comparison of coplanar and noncoplanar volumetric modulated arc therapy for hippocampal-sparing whole-brain radiation therapy

Whole brain radiation therapy with hippocampal-sparing (HS-WBRT) is a novel treatment of brain metastases, which can relieve symptoms reduce recurrence in the central nervous system, and spare the hippocampus without compromising target coverage. This study aims to find out the superior combination of the treatment planning system and linear accelerator between Eclipse (version 15.6) with TrueBeam and uRT-TPOIS (vision R001.4) with uRT-linac 506c in HS-WBRT. The coplanar and noncoplanar volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for HS-WBRT plans were evaluated and compared on both combinations, respectively. Twenty patients for HS-WBRT were retrospectively selected at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) from 2021 to 2022. The coplanar and noncoplanar HS-WBRT treatment plans were designed by Eclipse and uRT-TPOIS referring to RTOG 0933 dose criteria, and their dosimetry parameters were compared. In addition, the plan complexity, monitor units, and beam-on time were recorded for Eclipse plans delivered on TrueBeam and uRT-TPOIS plans delivered on uRT-linac 506c. The results demonstrated that the dosimetric criteria of 4 types of HS-WBRT plans could meet the requirements of RTOG 0933. In terms of target coverage, dosimetric indexes of Eclipse plans and uRT-TPOIS plans were comparable, and the former is slightly better. As for metrics of organs-at-risk protection, coplanar and noncoplanar plans conducted by uRT-TPOIS were greatly superior to those by Eclipse. For coplanar and noncoplanar plans designed by the same treatment planning system, most of the dosimetric indexes had no significant difference. The monitor units of uRT-TPOIS plans was higher than that of Eclipse plans, but the modulation complexity of them were close, and uRT-TPOIS with uRT-linac 506c significantly reduced beam-on-time consumption by 9% on average for coplanar plans and 26% for noncoplanar plans compared to Eclipse with TrueBeam. This study firstly compared the coplanar and noncoplanar HS-WBRT treatment plans between Eclipse with TrueBeam and uRT-TPOIS with uRT-linac 506c in terms of dosimetry indexes, modulation complexity, and time consumption. It is shown that the radiation treatment solution of uRT-TPOIS with uRT-linac 506c is comparable with Eclipse with TrueBeam in terms of planning design, and significantly reduced the delivery time, which can be applied in clinical practice and promoted as a treatment format.

Advancing immunotherapy in small cell lung cancer

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a rapidly progressive neuroendocrine carcinoma that, until recently, had a very small armamentarium of effective treatments. Advances in DNA sequencing and whole transcriptomics have delineated key subtypes; therefore, SCLC is no longer viewed as a homogeneous cancer. Chemoimmunotherapy with PD1 blockade is now the standard of care for advanced disease, and ongoing research efforts are moving this strategy into the limited stage setting. Combination strategies of immunotherapy with radiation are also under active clinical trial in both limited and extensive stage disease. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a rapidly progressive neuroendocrine carcinoma that, until recently, had a very small armamentarium of effective treatments. Chemoimmunotherapy with immune check point inhibitors is now the standard of care for advanced disease. This comprehensive review provides an overview of current treatment strategies for SCLC, unmet needs in this patient population, and emerging treatment strategies incorporating immunotherapy that will hopefully further improve outcomes for patients.

Treatment and survival of patients with small cell lung cancer and brain metastasis

PURPOSE

To elucidate treatment patterns and their outcomes in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and brain metastasis (BM).

METHODS

In this retrospective study, patients with SCLC and BM were stratified by treatment modality into three groups: those treated with systemic therapy only, those treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and systemic therapy, and those treated with whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and systemic therapy. The primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and time to central nervous system progression (TTCP).

RESULTS

The analysis included 149 patients. After BM diagnosis, 48 patients (32.2%) received systemic therapy alone, 33 received SRS with systemic therapy, and 68 received WBRT with systemic therapy. The median OS and TTCP were 7.2 months and 8.7 months, respectively. Patients receiving WBRT with systemic therapy exhibited better intracranial control, but not better OS, than did the other patients. Key prognostic factors affecting OS were age, BM lesion count, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Notably, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status and BM lesion count significantly influenced intracranial control in patients treated with SRS and systemic therapy.

CONCLUSION

Although WBRT combined with systemic therapy offer better intracranial control in patients with SCLC and BM, this approach is not superior to the other approaches in terms of OS benefits. Emerging systemic therapies, such as immunotherapy, may be used as alternative or adjunctive treatments for specific patient populations. Further studies are warranted to refine treatment selection.

Clinical insights into small cell lung cancer: Tumor heterogeneity, diagnosis, therapy, and future directions

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by rapid growth and high metastatic capacity. It has strong epidemiologic and biologic links to tobacco carcinogens. Although the majority of SCLCs exhibit neuroendocrine features, an important subset of tumors lacks these properties. Genomic profiling of SCLC reveals genetic instability, almost universal inactivation of the tumor suppressor genes TP53 and RB1, and a high mutation burden. Because of early metastasis, only a small fraction of patients are amenable to curative-intent lung resection, and these individuals require adjuvant platinum-etoposide chemotherapy. Therefore, the vast majority of patients are currently being treated with chemoradiation with or without immunotherapy. In patients with disease confined to the chest, standard therapy includes thoracic radiotherapy and concurrent platinum-etoposide chemotherapy. Patients with metastatic (extensive-stage) disease are treated with a combination of platinum-etoposide chemotherapy plus immunotherapy with an anti-programmed death-ligand 1 monoclonal antibody. Although SCLC is initially very responsive to platinum-based chemotherapy, these responses are transient because of the development of drug resistance. In recent years, the authors have witnessed an accelerating pace of biologic insights into the disease, leading to the redefinition of the SCLC classification scheme. This emerging knowledge of SCLC molecular subtypes has the potential to define unique therapeutic vulnerabilities. Synthesizing these new discoveries with the current knowledge of SCLC biology and clinical management may lead to unprecedented advances in SCLC patient care. Here, the authors present an overview of multimodal clinical approaches in SCLC, with a special focus on illuminating how recent advancements in SCLC research could accelerate clinical development.

Immunotherapy and brain metastasis in lung cancer: connecting bench side science to the clinic

Brain metastases (BMs) are the most common form of intracranial malignant neoplasms in adults, with a profound impact on quality of life and traditionally associated with a dismal prognosis. Lung cancer accounts for approximately 40%-50% of BM across different tumors. The process leading to BMs is complex and includes local invasion, intravasation, tumor cells circulation into the bloodstream, disruption of the blood-brain barrier, extravasation of tumor cells into the brain parenchyma, and interaction with cells of the brain microenvironment, among others. Once the tumor cells have seeded in the brain parenchyma, they encounter different glial cells of the brain, as well as immune cells. The interaction between these cells and tumor cells is complex and is associated with both antitumoral and protumoral effects. To overcome the lethal prognosis associated with BMs, different treatment strategies have been developed, such as immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors, particularly inhibitors of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis, which have demonstrated to be an effective treatment in both non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. These antibodies have shown to be effective in the treatment of BM, alone or in combination with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. However, many unsolved questions remain to be answered, such as the sequencing of immunotherapy and radiotherapy, the optimal management in symptomatic BMs, the role of the addition of anti-CTLA-4 antibodies, and so forth. The complexity in the management of BMs in the era of immunotherapy requires a multidisciplinary approach to adequately treat this devastating event. The aim of this review is to summarize evidence regarding epidemiology of BM, its pathophysiology, current approach to treatment strategies, as well as future perspectives.

Efficacy and safety of thoracic radiotherapy for extensive stage small cell lung cancer after immunotherapy in real world

The immunotherapy combined chemotherapy has been the standard treatment strategy for extensive-stage small lung cancer (ES-SCLC). The CREST trial reported consolidative thoracic radiotherapy (cTRT) improved overall survival (OS) for ES-SCLC with intrathoracic residual after chemotherapy. In this study, patients with ES-SCLC who received immunotherapy were assigned to receive either TRT or no TRT. TRT significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) and OS with well tolerated toxicity. Further sub-cohort analysis, TRT significantly improved LRFS in patients with oligo-metastasis and without liver metastasis.

Modern Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Brain Metastases from Lung Cancer: Current Trends and Future Perspectives Based on Integrated Translational Approaches

Brain metastases (BMs) represent the most frequent metastatic event in the course of lung cancer patients, occurring in approximately 50% of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and in up to 70% in patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Thus far, many advances have been made in the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, allowing improvements in the prognosis of these patients. The modern approach relies on the integration of several factors, such as accurate histological and molecular profiling, comprehensive assessment of clinical parameters and precise definition of the extent of intracranial and extracranial disease involvement. The combination of these factors is pivotal to guide the multidisciplinary discussion and to offer the most appropriate treatment to these patients based on a personalized approach. Focal radiotherapy (RT), in all its modalities (radiosurgery (SRS), fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT), adjuvant stereotactic radiotherapy (aSRT)), is the cornerstone of BM management, either alone or in combination with surgery and systemic therapies. We review the modern therapeutic strategies available to treat lung cancer patients with brain involvement. This includes an accurate review of the different technical solutions which can be exploited to provide a "state-of-art" focal RT and also a detailed description of the systemic agents available as effective alternatives to SRS/SRT when a targetable molecular driver is present. In addition to the validated treatment options, we also discuss the future perspective for focal RT, based on emerging clinical reports (e.g., SRS for patients with many BMs from NSCLC or SRS for BMs from SCLC), together with a presentation of innovative and promising findings in translational research and the combination of novel targeted agents with SRS/SRT.

SEOM-GECP Clinical guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) (2022)

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive malignancy comprising approximately 15% of lung cancers. Only one-third of patients are diagnosed at limited-stage (LS). Surgical resection can be curative in early stages, followed by platinum-etoposide adjuvant therapy, although only a minority of patients with SCLC qualify for surgery. Concurrent chemo-radiotherapy is the standard of care for LS-SCLC that is not surgically resectable, followed by prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) for patients without progression. For extensive-stage (ES)-SCLC, a combination of platinum and etoposide has historically been a mainstay of treatment. Recently, the efficacy of programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitors combined with chemotherapy has become the new front-line standard of care for ES-SCLC. Emerging knowledge regarding SCLC biology, including genomic characterization and molecular subtyping, and new treatment approaches will potentially lead to advances in SCLC patient care.

Radiotherapy for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer in the immunotherapy era

Currently, chemoimmunotherapy is the first-line treatment for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). However, only 0.8%-2.5% of the patients presented complete response after chemoimmunotherapy. Considering that ES-SCLC is highly sensitive to radiotherapy, the addition of radiotherapy after first-line treatment for ES-SCLC could further improve local control, which may be beneficial for patients' survival. Prior studies have shown that consolidative thoracic radiotherapy (cTRT) can decrease disease progression and improve overall survival in patients with ES-SCLC who respond well to chemotherapy. However, the efficacy and safety of cTRT in the immunotherapy era remain unclear owing to a lack of prospective studies. Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) has been shown to decrease brain metastasis (BM) and prolong survival in patients with limited-stage SCLC in previous reports. However, according to current guidelines, PCI is not commonly recommended for ES-SCLC. Immunotherapy has the potential to reduce the incidence of BM. Whether PCI can be replaced with regular magnetic resonance imaging surveillance for ES-SCLC in the era of immunotherapy remains controversial. Whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) is the standard treatment for BM in SCLC patients. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has shown promise in the treatment of limited BM. Considering the potential of immunotherapy to decrease BM, it is controversial whether SRS can replace WBRT for limited BM in the immunotherapy era. Additionally, with the addition of immunotherapy, the role of palliative radiotherapy may be weakened in patients with asymptomatic metastatic lesions. However, it is still indispensable and urgent for patients with obvious symptoms of metastatic disease, such as spinal cord compression, superior vena cava syndrome, lobar obstruction, and weight-bearing metastases, which may critically damage the quality of life and prognosis. To improve the outcome of ES-SCLC, we discuss the feasibility of radiotherapy, including cTRT, PCI, WBRT/SRS, and palliative radiotherapy with immunotherapy based on existing evidence, which may offer specific prospects for further randomized trials and clinical applications.

Patterns of care for people with small cell lung cancer in Victoria, 2011-19: a retrospective, population-based registry data study

OBJECTIVES

To report stage-specific patterns of treatment and the influence of management and treatment type on survival rates for people newly diagnosed with small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

DESIGN

Cross-sectional patterns of care study; analysis of data prospectively collected for the Victorian Lung Cancer Registry (VLCR).

SETTING, PARTICIPANTS

All people diagnosed with SCLC in Victoria during 1 April 2011 - 18 December 2019.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Stage-specific management and treatment of people with SCLC; median survival time.

RESULTS

During 2011-19, 1006 people were diagnosed with SCLC (10.5% of all lung cancer diagnoses in Victoria); their median age was 69 years (interquartile range [IQR], 62-77 years), 429 were women (43%), and 921 were current or former smokers (92%). Clinical stage was defined for 896 people (89%; TNM stages I-III, 268 [30%]; TNM stage IV, 628 [70%]) and ECOG performance status at diagnosis for 663 (66%; 0 or 1, 489 [49%]; 2-4, 174 [17%]). The cases of 552 patients had been discussed at multidisciplinary meetings (55%), 377 people had received supportive care screening (37%), and 388 had been referred for palliative care (39%). Active treatment was received by 891 people (89%): chemotherapy, 843 (84%); radiotherapy, 460 (46%); chemotherapy and radiotherapy, 419 (42%); surgery, 23 (2%). Treatment had commenced within fourteen days of diagnosis for 632 of 875 patients (72%). Overall median survival time from diagnosis was 8.9 months (IQR, 4.2-16 months; stage I-III: 16.3 [IQR, 9.3-30] months; stage IV: 7.2 [IQR, 3.3-12] months). Multidisciplinary meeting presentation (hazard ratio [HR], 0.66; 95% CI, 0.58-0.77), multimodality treatment (HR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.36-0.49), and chemotherapy within fourteen days of diagnosis (HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.48-0.94) were each associated with lower mortality during follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Rates of supportive care screening, multidisciplinary meeting evaluation, and palliative care referral for people with SCLC could be improved. A national registry of SCLC-specific management and outcomes data could improve the quality and safety of care.

Advancements in small cell lung cancer

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a recalcitrant cancer with an urgent need for novel therapeutics, preclinical models, and elucidation of the molecular pathways responsible for its rapid resistance. Recently, there have been many significant advancements in our knowledge of SCLC that led to the development of novel treatments. This review will go over the recent attempts to provide new molecular subcategorization of SCLC, recent breakthroughs in various systemic treatments including immunotherapy, targeted therapy, cellular therapy, as well as advancements in radiation therapy.

Canadian Consensus Recommendations on the Management of Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive, neuroendocrine tumour with high relapse rates, and significant morbidity and mortality. Apart from advances in radiation therapy, progress in the systemic treatment of SCLC had been stagnant for over three decades despite multiple attempts to develop alternative therapeutic options that could improve responses and survival. Recent promising developments in first-line and subsequent therapeutic approaches prompted a Canadian Expert Panel to convene to review evidence, discuss practice patterns, and reach a consensus on the treatment of extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC). The literature search included guidelines, systematic reviews, and randomized controlled trials. Regular meetings were held from September 2022 to March 2023 to discuss the available evidence to propose and agree upon specific recommendations. The panel addressed biomarkers and histological features that distinguish SCLC from non-SCLC and other neuroendocrine tumours. Evidence for initial and subsequent systemic therapies was reviewed with consideration for patient performance status, comorbidities, and the involvement and function of other organs. The resulting consensus recommendations herein will help clarify evidence-based management of ES-SCLC in routine practice, help clinician decision-making, and facilitate the best patient outcomes.

PRO: Do We Still Need Whole-Brain Irradiation for Brain Metastases?

(1) Background: In recent decades, the use of whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) in the treatment of brain metastases has significantly decreased, with clinicians fearing adverse neurocognitive events and data showing limited efficacy regarding local tumor control and overall survival. The present study thus aimed to reassess the role that WBRT holds in the treatment of brain metastases. (2) Methods: This review summarizes the available evidence from 1990 until today supporting the use of WBRT, as well as new developments in WBRT and their clinical implications. (3) Results: While one to four brain metastases should be exclusively treated with radiosurgery, WBRT does remain an option for patients with multiple metastases. In particular, hippocampus-avoidance WBRT, WBRT with dose escalation to the metastases, and their combination have shown promising results and offer valid alternatives to local stereotactic radiotherapy. Ongoing and published prospective trials on the efficacy and toxicity of these new methods are presented. (4) Conclusions: Unlike conventional WBRT, which has limited indications, modern WBRT techniques continue to have a significant role to play in the treatment of multiple brain metastases. In which situations radiosurgery or WBRT should be the first option should be investigated in further studies. Until then, the therapeutic decision must be made individually depending on the oncological context.

Building Team Medicine in the Management of CNS Metastases

CNS metastases are often terminal for cancer patients and occur at an approximately 10-fold higher rate than primary CNS tumors. The incidence of these tumors is approximately 70,000-400,000 cases annually in the US. Advances that have occurred over the past two decades have led to more personalized treatment approaches. Newer surgical and radiation techniques, as well as targeted and immune therapies, have enanled patient to live longer, thus increasing the risk for the development of CNS, brain, and leptomeningeal metastases (BM and LM). Patients who develop CNS metastases have often been heavily treated, and options for future treatment could best be addressed by multidisciplinary teams. Studies have indicated that patients with brain metastases have improved survival outcomes when cared for in high-volume academic institutions using multidisciplinary teams. This manuscript discusses a multidisciplinary approach for both parenchymal brain metastases as well as leptomeningeal metastases implemented in three academic institutions. Additionally, with the increasing development of healthcare systems, we discuss optimizing the management of CNS metastases across healthcare systems and integrating basic and translational science into our clinical care to further improve outcomes. This paper summarizes the existing therapeutic approaches to the treatment of BM and LM and discusses novel and emerging approaches to optimizing access to neuro-oncologic care while simultaneously integrating multidisciplinary teams in the care of patients with BM and LM.

Prophylactic cranial irradiation for extensive stage small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background

Previous studies have demonstrated that prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) could reduce the risk of brain metastases and prolong the overall survival (OS) of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). However, it remains controversial whether the efficacy and safety of PCI would be subjected to the different characteristics of patients with extensive stage of SCLC. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PCI in patients with extensive stage SCLC.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched for relevant studies from inception to May, 2021. Hazard ratios (HRs) were used to measure the OS and progression-free survival (PFS), and relative risks (RRs) were employed to calculate the incidence of brain metastases, survival rate, and adverse events. Summary results were pooled using random-effect models.

Results

There were 1215 articles identified, and 15 trials were included, with a total of 1,623 participants. Patients who received PCI did not result in significantly improved OS [HR=0.87, 95%CI (0.70, 1.08) p=0.417] and PFS [HR=0.81, 95%CI (0.69, 0.95) p=0.001], compared with those who did not receive PCI, while patients who received PCI had a significantly decreased incidence of brain metastases [RR=0.57, 95%CI (0.45, 0.74), p<0.001]. PCI group showed no improvements in 2-year (RR=1.03, p=0.154), 3-year (RR=0.97, p=0.072), 4-year (RR=0.71, p=0.101) and 5-year survival rates (RR=0.32, p=0.307), compared with non-PCI group, whereas the overall RR indicated that PCI was associated with a higher 1-year survival rate [RR=1.46, 95%CI (1.08, 1.97), p=0.013]. In addition, PCI treatment was shown to be associated with increased incidence of adverse events, including fatigue, dermatitis, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, malaise, and cognitive impairment.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis suggests that PCI can reduce the incidence of brain metastases in extensive stage SCLC. Although PCI has no significant effect on the OS, it improves 1-year survival in patients with extensive stage SCLC. However, PCI does not significantly affect 2,3,4,5-year survival and may result in a significantly increased risk of adverse events.

Waiting for Big Changes in Limited-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer: For Now, More of the Same

The Oncology Grand Rounds series is designed to place original reports published in the Journal into clinical context. A case presentation is followed by a description of diagnostic and management challenges, a review of the relevant literature, and a summary of the authors' suggested management approaches. The goal of this series is to help readers better understand how to apply the results of key studies, including those published in Journal of Clinical Oncology, to patients seen in their own clinical practice.Concurrent chemoradiotherapy remains central to the treatment of limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). SCLC is one of the few tumors treated with twice-daily radiotherapy (RT) in the primary definitive setting, a regimen that was established when Intergroup 0096 demonstrated its superiority over once-daily RT. However, questions remained about the optimal chemoradiotherapy regimen given the low RT dose used in the once-daily RT arm of Intergroup 0096. CALGB 30610/RTOG 0538 and CONVERT attempted to establish whether dose-escalated once-daily RT was superior to twice-daily RT in limited-stage SCLC. Although both studies showed similar survival between treatment regimens, once-daily RT was not found to be superior to twice-daily RT, and trial design limited the ability to conclude dose-escalated once-daily RT as noninferior to twice-daily RT. Thus, twice-daily RT with concurrent chemotherapy remains a standard of care in limited-stage SCLC.

Dramatic, durable response to therapy in gBRCA2-mutated pancreas neuroendocrine carcinoma: opportunity and challenge

Poorly differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PDNEC), are a subtype of pancreatic cancer encompassing both small cell and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma subtypes, and are characterized as distinct in terms of biology and prognosis compared to the more common pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Until recently, there has been a paucity of data on the genomic features of this cancer type. We describe a male patient diagnosed with PDNEC and extensive metastatic disease in the liver at diagnosis. Genomic analysis demonstrated a germline pathogenic variant in BRCA2 with somatic loss-of-heterozygosity of the BRCA2 wild-type allele. Following a favorable response to platinum-based chemotherapy (and the addition of immunotherapy), the patient received maintenance therapy with olaparib, which resulted in a further reduction on follow-up imaging (Fig. 1). After seventeen months of systemic control with olaparib, the patient developed symptomatic central nervous system metastases, which harboured a BRCA2 reversion mutation. No other sites of disease progression were observed. Herein, we report an exceptional outcome through the incorporation of a personalized management approach for a patient with a pancreatic PDNEC, guided by comprehensive genomic sequencing.

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Following Cranial Radiation: Identification of Shunting Responders

BACKGROUND

We examined cognitive, brain MRI, and lumbar infusion test (LIT) features to identify predictors of response to ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS) in long-term cancer survivors with suspected normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) following cranial radiotherapy (RT).

METHODS

Patients who completed cranial RT at least 2 years before with clinically suspected NPH and an Evans' index (EI) ≥ 0.30 underwent a cognitive and a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volumetric (MRI) analysis (n = 36). For those in whom VPS was placed (n = 14), we explored whether adding a CSF volumetric analysis to classical MRI and LIT (Tap Test) features would better identify VPS responders.

RESULTS

Nearly 80% exhibited cognitive impairment. The CSF volume at NPH diagnoses was significantly larger in the group of VPS responders (p = 0.04). The addition of CSF volume to NPH diagnoses increased accuracy to 93%, with a positive and negative predictive value of 91% and 100%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The addition of a quantitative MRI analysis of CSF volume to classical MRI and LIT NPH criteria, along with a high clinical suspicion of NPH, may help to identify VPS responders, thus improving the clinical management and prognosis of long-term survivors.

Use of radiation therapy among patients with Extensive-stage Small-cell lung cancer receiving Immunotherapy: Canadian consensus recommendations

OBJECTIVES

Thoracic radiation therapy (TRT) and prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) are commonly used in the management of extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC); however, Phase III trials of first-line immunotherapy often excluded these options. Guidance is needed regarding appropriate use of TRT, PCI, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) surveillance while new data are awaited.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In two web-based meetings, a pan-Canadian expert working group of five radiation oncologists and four medical oncologists addressed eight clinical questions regarding use of radiation therapy (RT) and MRI surveillance among patients with ES-SCLC receiving immunotherapy. A targeted literature review was conducted using PubMed and conference proceedings to identify recent (January 2019-April 2022) publications in this setting. Fifteen recommendations were developed; online voting was conducted to gauge agreement with each recommendation.

RESULTS

After considering recently available evidence across lung cancer populations and clinical experience, the experts recommended that all patients with a response to chemo-immunotherapy, good performance status (PS), and limited metastases be considered for consolidation TRT (e.g., 30 Gy in 10 fractions). When considered appropriate after multidisciplinary team discussion, TRT can be initiated during maintenance immunotherapy. All patients who respond to concurrent chemo-immunotherapy should undergo restaging with brain MRI to guide decision-making regarding PCI versus MRI surveillance alone. MRI surveillance should be conducted for two years after response to initial therapy. PCI (e.g., 25 Gy in 10 fractions or 20 Gy in 5 fractions) can be considered for patients without central nervous system involvement who have a response to chemo-immunotherapy and good PS. Concurrent treatment with PCI and immunotherapy or with TRT, PCI, and immunotherapy is appropriate after completion of initial therapy. All recommendations were agreed upon unanimously.

CONCLUSIONS

These consensus recommendations provide practical guidance regarding appropriate use of RT and immunotherapy in ES-SCLC while awaiting new clinical trial data.

Emerging Strategies for the Treatment of Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Review

Importance

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive disease that is characterized by rapid growth and the early development of metastases. Patients typically respond to initial chemotherapy but quickly experience relapse, resulting in a poor long-term outcome. Therapeutic innovations that substantially improve survival have historically been limited, and reliable, predictive biomarkers are lacking.

Observations

This review examines the biologic characteristics of SCLC, the current treatment landscape, and ongoing efforts to identify novel therapeutic targets. Ongoing research has advanced the understanding of molecular categories and the immunologic microenvironment of SCLC, which in turn has helped improve disease classification and staging. Recently, immunotherapy-based regimens have become available for the management of SCLC, with 2 programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 inhibitors approved in combination with chemotherapy for first-line treatment of extensive-stage disease. For second-line treatment, a novel alkylating agent, lurbinectedin, which inhibits oncogenic transcription, has been approved for use in patients with metastatic SCLC. Furthermore, a wide variety of therapies and innovative combination regimens are being continuously evaluated. Potential therapeutic strategies, including aurora kinase A inhibitors, polyadenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase inhibitors, ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related inhibitors, cyclin-dependent kinase 7 inhibitors, delta-like protein 3 agents, antiganglioside agents, CD47 inhibitors, and lysine-specific histone demethylase 1a inhibitors, are also being examined.

Conclusions and Relevance

Therapeutic optimization of SCLC remains a challenge, but recent trial results and drug approvals are encouraging. Advances in research have revealed critical information regarding biologic characteristics of the disease, which may lead to the identification of vulnerabilities and the development of new therapies. Further research focused on identifying biomarkers and evaluating innovative therapies will be paramount to improving treatment outcomes for patients with SCLC.

Rare thoracic cancers: a comprehensive overview of diagnosis and management of small cell lung cancer, malignant pleural mesothelioma and thymic epithelial tumours

Despite the progress in outcomes seen with immunotherapy in various malignancies, including nonsmall cell lung cancer, the benefits are less in small cell lung cancer, malignant pleural mesothelioma and thymic epithelial tumours. New effective treatment options are needed, guided via more in-depth insights into the pathophysiology of these rare malignancies. This review comprehensively presents an overview of the clinical presentation, diagnostic tools, staging systems, pathophysiology and treatment options for these rare thoracic cancers. In addition, opportunities for further improvement of therapies are discussed.

Machine learning-based automated planning for hippocampal avoidance prophylactic cranial irradiation

PURPOSE

Design and evaluate a knowledge-based model using commercially available artificial intelligence tools for automated treatment planning to efficiently generate clinically acceptable hippocampal avoidance prophylactic cranial irradiation (HA-PCI) plans in patients with small-cell lung cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data from 44 patients with different grades of head flexion (range 45°) were used as the training datasets. A Rapid Plan knowledge-based planning (KB) routine was applied for a prescription of 25 Gy in 10 fractions using two volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) arcs. The 9 plans used to validate the initial model were added to generate a second version of the RP model (Hippo-MARv2). Automated plans (AP) were compared with manual plans (MP) according to the dose-volume objectives of the PREMER trial. Optimization time and model quality were assessed using 10 patients who were not included in the first 44 datasets.

RESULTS

A 55% reduction in average optimization time was observed for AP compared to MP. (15 vs 33 min; p = 0.001).Statistically significant differences in favor of AP were found for D98% (22.6 vs 20.9 Gy), Homogeneity Index (17.6 vs 23.0) and Hippocampus D mean (11.0 vs 11.7 Gy). The AP met the proposed objectives without significant deviations, while in the case of the MP, significant deviations from the proposed target values were found in 2 cases.

CONCLUSION

The KB model allows automated planning for HA-PCI. Automation of radiotherapy planning improves efficiency, safety, and quality and could facilitate access to new techniques.

Thoracic Radiotherapy in Extensive Disease Small Cell Lung Cancer: Multicenter Prospective Observational TRENDS Study

(1) Introduction: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive tumor type, accounting for about 15% of all lung cancers. Radiotherapy (RT) plays a fundamental role in both early and advanced stages. Currently, in advanced disease, the use of consolidative chest RT should be recommended for patients with good response to platinum-based first-line chemotherapy, but its use has not yet been standardized. The present prospective study aims to evaluate the pattern of care of consolidative chest RT in patients with advanced stage SCLC, and its effectiveness in terms of disease control and tolerability. (2) Materials and methods: This study was a multicenter prospective observational trial, proposed and conducted within the AIRO lung study group to evaluate the pattern of care of consolidative chest RT after first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced SCLC. The patient and tumor characteristics, doses, fractionation and volumes of thoracic RT and prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI), as well as the thoracic and extrathoracic response to the treatment, toxicity and clinical outcomes, were collected and analyzed. (3) Results: From January 2017 to December 2019, sixty-four patients were enrolled. Median follow-up was 33 months. The median age was 68 years (range 42-81); 38 patients (59%) were male and 26 (41%) female. Carboplatin + etoposide for 6 cycles was the most commonly used first-line therapeutic scheme (42%). With regard to consolidative chest RT, 56% of patients (35) received 30 Gy in 10 factions and 16 patients (26%) received 45 Gy in 15 sessions. The modulated intensity technique was used in 84.5% of cases, and post-chemotherapy macroscopic residual disease was the target volume in 87.5% of patients. Forty-four patients (69%) also underwent PCI. At the last follow-up, over 60% of patients did not experience chest disease progression, while 67% showed extrathoracic progression. At the first radiological evaluation after RT, complete response and stable disease were recorded in 6% and 46% of the cases, respectively. Two patients had a long-term complete response to the combined treatment. The brain was the first site of extrathoracic progression in 28%. 1y and 2y OS and PFS were 67%, 19%, 28% and 6%, respectively. Consolidative chest RT was well-tolerated in the majority of patients; it was interrupted in three cases (due to G2 pulmonary toxicity, disease progression and clinical decay, respectively). Only 1 patient developed G3 asthenia. (4) Conclusions: Consolidative chest RT has been shown to be useful in reducing the risk of thoracic disease progression and is absolutely well-tolerated in patients with advanced stage SCLC with good response after first-line chemotherapy. Among the Italian centers that participated in this study, there is still variability in the choice of fractionation and target volumes, although the guidelines contain clear recommendations. The aim of future research should be to clarify the role and modalities of chest RT in the era of immunotherapy in advanced-stage SCLC.

A "Seed-and-Soil" Radiomics Model Predicts Brain Metastasis Development in Lung Cancer: Implications for Risk-Stratified Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation

Introduction: Brain is a major site of metastasis for lung cancer, and effective therapy for developed brain metastasis (BM) is limited. Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) has been shown to reduce BM rate and improve survival in small cell lung cancer, but this result was not replicated in unselected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and had the risk of inducing neurocognitive dysfunctions. We aimed to develop a radiomics BM prediction model for BM risk stratification in NSCLC patients. Methods: 256 NSCLC patients with no BM at baseline brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were selected; 128 patients developed BM within three years after diagnosis and 128 remained BM-free. For radiomics analysis, both the BM and non-BM groups were randomly distributed into training and testing datasets at an 70%:30% ratio. Both brain MRI (representing the soil) and chest computed tomography (CT, representing the seed) radiomic features were extracted to develop the BM prediction models. We first developed the radiomic models using the training dataset (89 non-BM and 90 BM cases) and subsequently validated the models in the testing dataset (39 non-BM and 38 BM cases). A radiomics BM score (RadBM score) was generated, and BM-free survival were compared between RadBM score-high and RadBM score-low groups. Results: The radiomics model developed from baseline brain MRI features alone can predict BM development in NSCLC patients. A fusion model integrating brain MRI features with primary tumor CT features (seed-and-soil model) provided synergetic effect and was more efficient in predicting BM (areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.84 (95% confidence interval: 0.80−0.89) and 0.80 (95% confidence interval: 0.71−0.88) in the training and testing datasets, respectively). BM-free survival was significantly shorter in the RadBM score-high group versus the RadBM score-low group (Log-rank, p < 0.001). Hazard ratios for BM were 1.056 (95% confidence interval: 1.044−1.068) per 0.01 increment in RadBM score. Cumulative BM rates at three years were 75.8% and 24.2% for the RadBM score-high and RadBM score-low groups, respectively. Only 1.2% (7/565) of the BM lesions were located within the hippocampal avoidance region. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that intrinsic features of a non-metastatic brain exert a significant impact on BM development, which is first-in-class in metastasis prediction studies. A radiomics BM prediction model utilizing both primary tumor and pre-metastatic brain features might provide a useful tool for individualized PCI administration in NSCLC patients more prone to develop BM.

Outcome of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer and brain metastases

Objectives

Brain metastases (BMs) are common in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and are underrepresented in pivotal clinical trials that demonstrate the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). We conducted a retrospective analysis to assess the role of ICIs in BM lesions in less selected patients.

Materials and methods

Patients with histologically confirmed extensive-stage SCLC who were treated with ICIs were included in this study. Objective response rates (ORRs) were compared between the with-BM and without-BM groups. Kaplan-Meier analysis and the log-rank test were used to evaluate and compare progression-free survival (PFS). The intracranial progression rate was estimated using the Fine-Gray competing risks model.

Results

A total of 133 patients were included, 45 of whom started ICI treatment with BMs. In the whole cohort, the overall ORR was not significantly different for patients with and without BMs (p = 0.856). The median progression-free survival for patients with and without BMs was 6.43 months (95% CI: 4.70-8.17) and 4.37 months (95% CI: 3.71-5.04), respectively (p =0.054). In multivariate analysis, BM status was not associated with poorer PFS (p = 0.101). Our data showed that different failure patterns occurred between groups, with 7 patients (8.0%) without BM and 7 patients (15.6%) with BM having intracranial-only failure as the first site progression. The cumulative incidences of brain metastases at 6 and 12 months were 15.0% and 32.9% in the without-BM group and 46.2% and 59.0% in the BM group, respectively (Gray's p<0.0001).

Conclusions

Although patients with BMs had a higher intracranial progression rate than patients without BMs, the presence of BMs was not significantly associated with a poorer ORR and PFS with ICI treatment in multivariate analysis.

Prophylactic cranial irradiation in small cell lung cancer: an update

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The current review presents recent updates in the seminal literature of research on prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) in small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

RECENT FINDINGS

Brain MRI restaging before the administration of PCI reveals a substantial proportion of brain metastasis in baseline brain metastasis free extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC) and limited-stage SCLC (LS-SCLC). Posthoc analyses from the CASPIAN and IMpower133 trials revealed decreases in brain metastasis rates in ES-SCLC treated with chemoimmunotherapy relative to the brain metastasis rates in ES-SCLC treated with chemotherapy alone. A recent meta-analysis of literature published after the landmark 1999 Auperin meta-analysis confirmed the survival benefit of PCI in LS-SCLC patients. A recent study employing PET before and after PCI demonstrated that hippocampal avoidance -PCI (HA-PCI) preserved the metabolic activity of the hippocampi compared with regular PCI. Two phase III trials evaluating neurocognitive functions after HA-PCI versus PCI have yielded conflicting results. Ongoing clinical trials (MAVERICK, PRIMALung, NRG CC003, NCT04535739, NCT04829708 and NCT03514849) regarding PCI versus MRI surveillance and HA-PCI versus PCI were also discussed.

SUMMARY

Currently, the indications for PCI in SCLC are under question in the modern MRI era. Result from prospective phase III, MRI staged and MRI monitored RCTs are expected to elucidate the role of PCI in LS-SCLC and ES-SCLC. Preliminary results indicated that adding immunotherapy to chemotherapy may reduce brain metastasis rate in SCLC. Further data to this aspect are warranted to determine the role of PCI in the immuno-chemotherapy era. The future direction for PCI should be the comprehensive integration of personalized patient selection, HA-PCI utilization and potential employment of other neurocognitive preservation strategies.

Malignant neoplasm of the bronchi and lung: Russian clinical guidelines

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Survey of treatment and care practices in small-cell lung cancer among German radiation oncologists

Background

The management of small-cell lung cancer shows differences, particularly with regard to the use of radio- (RT), chemo-, and immunotherapy. We performed a survey among German radiation oncologists to assess the management of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Methods

A 34-question online survey was created and sent out by e‑mail to radiation oncologists throughout Germany. The survey period extended from August 2020 to January 2021. The questions addressed indications for RT, planning techniques, dosing/fractionation, target volume definition for consolidative thoracic irradiation, and the use of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI). At the same time, we surveyed the use of atezolizumab. The survey addressed the treatment practice for limited-stage SCLC (LS-SCLC) and extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC).

Results

We received 74 responses. In LS-SCLC, treatment is planned predominantly based on diagnostic information from computed tomography (CT) of the thorax/abdomen/pelvis (88%), PET-CT (86%), and pulmonary function testing (88%). In LS-SCLC, 99% of respondents perform radiation concurrently with chemotherapy, preferably starting with cycle one or two (71%) of chemotherapy. The most common dose and fractionation schedule was 60–66 Gy in 30–33 fractions (once daily: 62% of all respondents). In ES-SCLC, 30 Gy in 10 fractions (once daily: 33% of all respondents) was the most commonly used regimen in consolidative thoracic irradiation. Only 25% use chemosensitization with RT. The inclusion criteria for PCI were similar for limited and extensive disease, with Karnofsky index (78% and 75%) being the most important decision factor. Respondents use a schedule of 30 Gy in 15 fractions most frequently in both stages (68% limited stage [LS], 60% extensive stage [ES]). Immunotherapy was used regularly or occasionally in LS-SCLC by 45% of respondents, with reduced lung function (37%), cardiac comorbidities (30%), and hepatic insufficiency (30%) being the most commonly mentioned exclusion criteria for this form of therapy. In ES-SCLC, atezolizumab use was reported in 78% of all questionnaires. Half of the respondents (49%) administer it simultaneously with cranial irradiation.

Conclusion

Our survey showed variability in the management of SCLC. Results from future studies might help to clarify open questions regarding the optimal treatment paradigms. In addition, new treatment modalities, such as immunotherapy, might change practices in the near future.

Research landscape and trends of lung cancer radiotherapy: A bibliometric analysis

Background

radiotherapy is one of the major treatments for lung cancer and has been a hot research area for years. This bibliometric analysis aims to present the research trends on lung cancer radiotherapy.

Method

On August 31, 2022, the authors identified 9868 articles on lung cancer radiotherapy by the Web of Science (Science Citation Indexing Expanded database) and extracted their general information and the total number of citations. A bibliometric analysis was carried out to present the research landscape, demonstrate the research trends, and determine the most cited papers (top-papers) as well as top-journals on lung cancer radiotherapy. After that, the authors analyzed the recent research hotspots based on the latest publications in top-journals.

Results

These 9868 papers were cited a total of 268,068 times. “Durvalumab after chemoradiotherapy in stage III non–small-cell lung cancer” published in 2017 by Antonia et al.was the most cited article (2110 citations). Among the journals, New England Journal of Medicine was most influential. Moreover, J. Clin. Oncol. and Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. was both influential and productive. Corresponding authors represented the USA (2610 articles) and China mainland (2060 articles) took part in most publications and articles with corresponding authors from Netherlands were most cited (46.12 citations per paper). Chemoradiotherapy was the hottest research area, and stereotactic body radiotherapy has become a research hotspot since 2006. Radiotherapy plus immunotherapy has been highly focused since 2019.

Conclusions

This bibliometric analysis comprehensively and quantitatively presents the research trends and hotspots based on 9868 relevant articles, and further suggests future research directions. The researchers can benefit in selecting journals and in finding potential collaborators. This study can help researchers gain a comprehensive picture of the research landscape, historical development, and recent hotspots in lung cancer radiotherapy and can provide inspiration for future research.

The Use of Palliative Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Lung Cancer

There have been significant advances in the systemic treatment of stage IV lung cancer, which is now recommended first line in patients with adequate fitness. This includes some patients with brain metastases due to the increased understanding of the central nervous system penetration of targeted therapies. The trials evidence base for palliative radiotherapy pre-dated this routine use of systemic therapy in our practice, which means that the sequence and role of palliative radiotherapy are not currently well defined in the first-line treatment setting. However, due to its efficacy in symptom control, radiotherapy remains a core component in the palliative management of lung cancer, particularly in the second-line setting and those unsuited to primary systemic treatment. This overview focuses on the evidence behind palliative radiotherapy to the thorax and brain for non-small cell and small cell lung cancer and the potential for future studies, including the TOURIST Trial Platform, to guide the future direction of these treatments.

An Overview of the Role of Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Small Cell Lung Cancer - A Mainstay of Treatment or a Modality in Decline?

AIMS

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for about 15% of all lung cancers. Chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy all play important roles in the management of SCLC. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of the role and evidence of radiotherapy in the cure and palliation of SCLC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The search strategy included a search of the PubMed database, hand searches, reference lists of relevant review articles and relevant published abstracts.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov was also queried for relevant trials.

RESULTS

Thoracic radiotherapy improves overall survival in limited stage SCLC, but the timing and dose remain controversial. The role of thoracic radiotherapy in extensive stage SCLC with immunotherapy is the subject of several ongoing trials. Current evidence supports the use of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) for limited stage SCLC but the evidence is equivocal in extensive stage SCLC. Whole brain radiotherapy is well established for the treatment of brain metastases but evidence is rapidly accumulating for the use of stereotactic radiosurgery. Further studies will define the role of PCI, whole brain radiotherapy and hippocampal avoidant PCI in the immunotherapy era.

CONCLUSION

Radiotherapy is an essential component in the multimodality management of SCLC. Technological advances have allowed safer delivery of radiotherapy with reduced toxicities. Discussion at multidisciplinary team meetings is important to ensure radiotherapy is considered and offered in appropriate patients.

The prognostic risk stratification model for metastatic small-cell lung cancer: An analysis of the SEER database

Distant metastases of small-cell lung cancer (DM-SCLC) is an important factor in the selection of treatment strategies. In this study, we established a nomogram to predict DM-SCLC and determine the benefit of radiotherapy (RT) for DM-SCLC. We analyzed DM-SCLC prognosis based on surveillance, epidemiology, and end result database (SEER) data. A comprehensive and practical nomogram that predicts the overall survival (OS) of DM-SCLC was constructed and the results were compared with the 7th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM stage system. A concordance index (C-index) and receiver operating characteristic plot were generated to evaluate the nomogram discrimination. The calibration was evaluated with a calibration plot, and its effectiveness was evaluated by a decision curve analysis (DCA). A score was assigned to each variable, and a total score was established for the risk stratification model. A total of 13,403 DM-SCLC patients were included. Eight characteristic variables were identified as independent prognostic variables. The C-index of the validation and training cohorts was 0.716 and 0.734, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values of the nomogram used to predict 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS were 0.751, 0.744, and 0.786 in the validation cohorts (0.761, 0.777, 0.787 in the training cohorts), respectively. The calibration curve of 1-, 2-, 3-year survival rates showed that the prediction of the nomogram was in good agreement with the actual observation. The nomogram exhibited higher clinical utility after evaluation with the 1-, 2-, 3-year DCA compared with the AJCC stage system. A predictive nomogram and risk stratification model have been constructed to evaluate the prognosis of DM-SCLC effectively and accurately. This nomogram may provide a reference for prognosis stratification and treatment decisions.