Stereotactic radiosurgery for single brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer: progression of extracranial disease correlates with distant intracranial failure

BackgroundLimited data exist regarding management of patients with a single brain lesion with extracranial disease due to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsEighty-eight consecutive patients with a single brain lesion from NSCLC in the presence of extracranial disease were treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) alone. Local control (LC), distant intracranial failure (DIF), overall survival (OS), and toxicity were assessed. The logrank test was used to identify prognostic variables.ResultsMedian OS was 10.6 months. One-year DIF was 61%; LC 89%. Treatments were delivered in 1-5 fractions to median BED10 = 60Gy. Five patients developed radionecrosis. Factors associated with shortened OS included poor performance status (PS) (p = 0.0002) and higher Recursive Partitioning Analysis class (p = 0.017). For patients with PS 0, median survival was 22 months. DIF was associated with systemic disease status (progressive vs. stable) (p = 0.0001), as was BED (p = 0.021) on univariate analysis, but only systemic disease (p = 0.0008) on multivariate analysis.ConclusionsThis study identifies a patient population that may have durable intracranial control after treatment with SRS alone. These data support the need for prospective studies to optimize patient selection for up-front SRS and to characterize the impact of DIF on patients’ quality of life

Stereotactic radiosurgery for single brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer: progression of extracranial disease correlates with distant intracranial failure

BackgroundLimited data exist regarding management of patients with a single brain lesion with extracranial disease due to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsEighty-eight consecutive patients with a single brain lesion from NSCLC in the presence of extracranial disease were treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) alone. Local control (LC), distant intracranial failure (DIF), overall survival (OS), and toxicity were assessed. The logrank test was used to identify prognostic variables.ResultsMedian OS was 10.6 months. One-year DIF was 61%; LC 89%. Treatments were delivered in 1-5 fractions to median BED10 = 60Gy. Five patients developed radionecrosis. Factors associated with shortened OS included poor performance status (PS) (p = 0.0002) and higher Recursive Partitioning Analysis class (p = 0.017). For patients with PS 0, median survival was 22 months. DIF was associated with systemic disease status (progressive vs. stable) (p = 0.0001), as was BED (p = 0.021) on univariate analysis, but only systemic disease (p = 0.0008) on multivariate analysis.ConclusionsThis study identifies a patient population that may have durable intracranial control after treatment with SRS alone. These data support the need for prospective studies to optimize patient selection for up-front SRS and to characterize the impact of DIF on patients’ quality of life

Scoring system predictive of survival for patients undergoing stereotactic body radiation therapy for liver tumors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is an emerging treatment option for liver tumors. This study evaluated outcomes after SBRT to identify prognostic variables and to develop a novel scoring system predictive of survival.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The medical records of 52 patients with a total of 85 liver lesions treated with SBRT from 2003 to 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-four patients had 1 lesion; 27 had 2 or more. Thirteen lesions were primary tumors; 72 were metastases. Fiducials were placed in all patients prior to SBRT. The median prescribed dose was 30 Gy (range, 16 – 50 Gy) in a median of 3 fractions (range, 1–5).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>With median follow-up of 11.3 months, median overall survival (OS) was 12.5 months, and 1 year OS was 50.8%. In 42 patients with radiographic follow up, 1 year local control was 74.8%. On univariate analysis, number of lesions (p = 0.0243) and active extralesional disease (p < 0.0001) were predictive of OS; Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) approached statistical significance (p = 0.0606). A scoring system for predicting survival was developed by allocating 1 point for each of the three following factors: active extralesional disease, 2 or more lesions, and KPS ≤ 80%. Score was associated with OS (p < 0.0001). For scores of 0, 1, 2 and 3, median survival intervals were 34, 12.5, 7.6, and 2.8 months, respectively.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>SBRT offers a safe and feasible treatment option for liver tumors. A prognostic scoring system based on the number of liver lesions, activity of extralesional disease, and KPS predicts survival following SBRT and can be used as a guide for prospective validation and ultimately for treatment decision-making.</p

Physician self-reported treatment of brain metastases according to patients’ clinical and demographic factors and physician practice setting

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Limited data guide radiotherapy choices for patients with brain metastases. This survey aimed to identify patient, physician, and practice setting variables associated with reported preferences for different treatment techniques.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>277 members of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (6% of surveyed physicians) completed a survey regarding treatment preferences for 21 hypothetical patients with brain metastases. Treatment choices included combinations of whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and surgery. Vignettes varied histology, extracranial disease status, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), presence of neurologic deficits, lesion size and number. Multivariate generalized estimating equation regression models were used to estimate odds ratios.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>For a hypothetical patient with 3 lesions or 8 lesions, 21% and 91% of physicians, respectively, chose WBRT alone, compared with 1% selecting WBRT alone for a patient with 1 lesion. 51% chose WBRT alone for a patient with active extracranial disease or KPS=50%. 40% chose SRS alone for an 80 year-old patient with 1 lesion, compared to 29% for a 55 year-old patient. Multivariate modeling detailed factors associated with SRS use, including availability of SRS within one’s practice (OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.46-3.37).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Poor prognostic factors, such as advanced age, poor performance status, or active extracranial disease, correspond with an increase in physicians’ reported preference for using WBRT. When controlling for clinical factors, equipment access was independently associated with choice of SRS. The large variability in preferences suggests that more information about the relative harms and benefits of these options is needed to guide decision-making.</p