Posterior fossa metastases: aggressive treatment improves survival

BACKGROUND: Brain metastases are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with malignancies. Infratentorial location has been considered a negative prognostic factor. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated patients with cerebellar metastasis. Statistical analysis assessed age, extracranial disease, performance status and treatment. Patients were categorized by Radiation Therapy Oncology Group recursive partitioning analysis (RPA). Treatment included surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) alone or in combination. RESULTS: Of 93 patients, the median survival was 12.9 months for RPA class I, 11 months for class II and 8 months for class III. On multivariate analysis, RPA class was an important predictor for overall survival. However, SRS with WBRT or surgery with WBRT or a combination of SRS, surgery and WBRT, was more favorable than surgery or SRS alone within RPA class II patients. CONCLUSIONS: Survival of patients with cerebellar brain metastasis is comparable to that of patients with supratentorial brain metastasis using RPA classification. Aggressive multimodality therapy has a favorable impact on survival.     

Stereotactic radiosurgery without radiation therapy providing high local tumor control of multiple brain metastases from renal cell carcinoma.

The aim of this study was to analyse treatment effects after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) without whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) as primary treatment for patients harboring brain metastases of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). During an 8-year period, 85 patients with 376 brain metastases from RCC underwent 134 outpatient SRS procedures. 65 % of all patients had multiple brain metastases. The median tumor volume was 1.2 cm (3) (range: 0.1 - 14.2 cm (3)). Mean prescribed tumor dose was 21.2 (+/- 3.2) Gy. Local/distant tumor recurrences were treated by additional SRS in cases of stable systemic disease. Overall median survival was 11.1 months after SRS. The local tumor control rate after SRS was 94 %. Most patients (78 %) died because of systemically progressing cancer. A KPS > 70 and RTOG class I were related to prolonged survival time. Patients of the RTOG groups I, II and III survived for 24.2 months, 9.2 months and 7.5 months, respectively. There was no permanent morbidity after SRS. 11 patients (12.9 %) showed transient radiogenic complications and 3 patients (3.5 %) died because of intratumoral bleedings after SRS. Stereotactic radiosurgery alone achieves excellent local tumor control rates for patients with small brain metastases from renal cell carcinoma.     

The role of stereotactic radiosurgery for multiple brain metastases in stable systemic disease: a review of the literature

Background

Cancer patients with brain metastases display a median survival of only 1 to 2 months if left untreated. Although whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) has lengthened median patient survival, the long-term neurotoxic effects of WBRT have become a deterrent to its use in the context of stable systemic disease. Therefore, it is important to identify patients who might benefit from stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in order to delay or avoid WBRT. Here we present a review of the literature to elucidate the role of SRS in patients with multiple brain metastases.

Methods

MEDLINE search for English-language articles from 1998 to 2012 describing survival or neurocognitive functioning of patients with multiple brain metastases treated with SRS, WBRT, or a combination.

Results

SRS monotherapy yields an equivalent survival with low risk of long-term neurotoxicity, but higher rate of recurrence, compared to WBRT or combined radiotherapy. Patients with ≤4 brain metastases or KPS?≥?80 are expected to survive significantly longer than the onset time of prominent WBRT-induced neurocognitive decline.

Conclusions

SRS, administered alone or adjuvant to surgical resection of symptomatic metastases, is preferred for patients with ≤4 brain metastases or KPS?≥?80 to delay or avoid WBRT. WBRT can then be employed in the event of recurrence. WBRT with or without resection is preferred for patients with ≥5 brain metastases and KPS?<?80, due to these patients’ shorter survival and increased recurrence risk. SRS boost treatments can then be used in the event of poor tumor response or progression.     

Image-guided craniotomy for cerebral metastases: techniques and outcomes

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to analyze the outcomes after craniotomies for brain metastases in a modern series using image-guided technologies either in the regular operating room or in the intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging unit. METHODS: Neurosurgical outcomes were analyzed for 49 patients who underwent 55 image-guided craniotomies for excision of brain metastases during a 5-year period. Tumors were located in critical and noncritical function regions of the brain. A total of 23 craniotomies for tumors in critical brain were performed using intravenous sedation anesthesia; craniotomies for noncritical function brain regions were completed under general anesthesia. The patients were also divided into Radiation Therapy Oncology Group recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) classes on the basis of age, Karnofsky Performance Scale scores, state of primary disease, and presence or absence of extracranial metastases. RESULTS: There was no perioperative mortality. Gross total resection, as verified by postoperative contrast-enhanced computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, was achieved in 96% of patients. The median anesthesia time was 4.25 hours, and the median length of hospital stay was 3 days. In 51 symptomatic cases, there was complete resolution of symptoms in 70% (n = 36), improvement in 14% (n = 7), and no change in 12% (n = 6) postoperatively. No patient who was neurologically intact preoperatively deteriorated after surgery, and 93% of patients maintained or improved their functional status. Only two patients (3.6%) with significant preoperative deficits had increased long-term deficits postoperatively. The mean follow-up was 1 year, and the local recurrence rate was 16%. The median survival of the entire group was 16.23 months (17.5 mo in RPA Class I, 22.9 mo in RPA Class II, and 9.8 mo in RPA Class III). CONCLUSION: Gross total resection of brain metastases, including those involving critical function areas, can be safely achieved with a low morbidity rate using contemporary image-guided systems. RPA Class I and II patients with controlled primary disease benefit from aggressive treatment by surgery and radiation.     

Resection of brain metastases previously treated with stereotactic radiosurgery

OBJECT: To date, no report has been published on outcomes of patients undergoing resection for brain metastases who were previously treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Consequently, the authors reviewed their institutional experience with this clinical scenario to assess the efficacy of surgical intervention. METHODS: Sixty-one patients (each harboring three or fewer brain lesions), who were treated at a single institution between June 1993 and August 2002 were identified. Patient charts and their neuroimaging and pathological reports were retrospectively reviewed to determine overall survival rates, surgical complications, and recurrence rates. A univariate analysis revealed that patient preoperative recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) classification, primary disease status, preoperative Karnofsky Performance Scale score, type of focal treatment undergone for nonindex lesions, and major postoperative surgical complications were factors that significantly affected survival (p < or = 0.05). In contrast, only the RPA class and focal (conventional surgery or SRS) treatment of nonindex lesions significantly (or nearly significantly) affected survival in the multivariate analysis. Major neurological complications occurred in only 2% of patients. The median time to distant recurrence after resection was 8.4 months; that to local recurrence was not reached. The overall median survival time was 11.1 months, with 25% of patients surviving 2 or more years. Conventional surgery facilitated tapering of steroid administration. Conclusions. The complication, morbidity, survival, and recurrence rates are consistent with those seen after conventional surgery for recurrent brain metastases. Our results indicate that in selected patients with a favorable RPA class in whom nonindex lesions are treated with focal modalities, surgery can provide long-term control of SRS-treated lesions and positively affect overall survival.     

Brain metastases treated with radiosurgery alone: an alternative to whole brain radiotherapy?

OBJECTIVE: Whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) provides benefit for patients with brain metastases but may result in neurological toxicity for patients with extended survival times. Stereotactic radiosurgery in combination with WBRT has become an important approach, but the value of WBRT has been questioned. As an alternative to WBRT, we managed patients with stereotactic radiosurgery alone, evaluated patients' outcomes, and assessed prognostic factors for survival and tumor control. METHODS: One hundred seventy-two patients with brain metastases were managed with radiosurgery alone. One hundred twenty-one patients were evaluable with follow-up imaging after radiosurgery. The median patient age was 60.5 years (age range, 16-86 yr). The mean marginal tumor dose and volume were 18.5 Gy (range, 11-22 Gy) and 4.4 ml (range, 0.1-24.9 ml). Eighty percent of patients had solitary tumors. RESULTS: The overall median survival time was 8 months. The median survival time in patients with no evidence of primary tumor disease or stable disease was 13 and 11 months. The local tumor control rate was 87%. At 2 years, the rate of local control, remote brain control, and total intracranial control were 75, 41, and 27%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, advanced primary tumor status (P = 0.0003), older age (P = 0.008), lower Karnofsky Performance Scale score (P = 0.01), and malignant melanoma (P = 0.005) were significant for poorer survival. The median survival time was 28 months for patients younger than 60 years of age, with Karnofsky Performance Scale score of at least 90, and whose primary tumor status showed either no evidence of disease or stable disease. Tumor volume (P = 0.02) alone was significant for local tumor control, whereas no factor affected remote or intracranial tumor control. Eleven patients developed complications, six of which were persistent. Nineteen (16.5%) of 116 patients in whom the cause of death was obtained died as a result of causes related to brain metastasis. CONCLUSION: Brain metastases were controlled well with radiosurgery alone as initial therapy. We advocate that WBRT should not be part of the initial treatment protocol for selected patients with one or two tumors with good control of their primary cancer, better Karnofsky Performance Scale score, and younger age, all of which are predictors of longer survival.     

Hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy using intensity-modulated radiotherapy in patients with one or two brain metastases

PURPOSE: A small fraction of patients with 1-2 brain metastases will not be suitable candidates to either surgical resection or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) due to either their location or their size. The objective of this study was to determine the local control, survival, patterns of relapse and the incidence of brain injury following a course of hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy while avoiding upfront whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) in this subgroup of patients. METHODS: A Gill-Thomas removable head frame system was used for immobilization. Brain LAB software with dynamic multileaf collimator hardware was used to design and deliver an intensity-modulated radiation therapy treatment plan. A dose of 600 cGy was prescribed to the 100% isodose line that would encompass the lesion with a 3-mm margin. A total dose of 3,000 cGy was delivered in 5 fractions using 2 fractions per week. The patients were followed with neurological examination and serial MRI images done every 3 months following the procedure. RESULTS: Twenty patients have been treated using this fractionation schedule since April 2004. The 1-year local control at the site of original disease is 70%. The complete response, partial response and stable disease at the last follow-up were 15, 30 and 45%, respectively. Two patients had local recurrence at the site of original disease, while 5 had evidence of leptomeningeal disease. Two additional patients developed new brain metastases, resulting in a 1-year brain relapse-free survival of 36% following this approach. The median overall survival was 8.5 months. Three patients (15%) developed steroid dependency lasting 3 months or longer following the procedure. Four patients (20%) needed WBRT as salvage following this approach. CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary results of hypofractionated SRS are comparable to both surgery and SRS data for solitary brain metastases in terms of local control and overall survival with acceptable morbidity in this cohort of unfavorable patients.     

Novel prognostic classification predicts overall survival of patients receiving salvage whole-brain radiotherapy for recurrent brain metastasis from breast cancer: A recursive partitioning analysis (KROG 16-12)

BackgroundTo investigate outcomes of salvage whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for recurrent brain metastases (BM) from breast cancer (BC), to identify prognostic factors of overall survival (OS), and to propose a novel prognostic classification for OS in these patients.Materials and methodsWe identified 54 patients who had received salvage WBRT as the second brain-focused treatment for recurrent BM from BC (2000–2014). The median follow-up duration was 4.9 months. A recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) was conducted to develop a model to predict OS at the time of salvage WBRT.ResultsThe median OS was 6.8 months. OS according to BC-specific graded prognostic assessment (breast-GPA), modified breast-GPA, and updated breast-GPA did not represent our cohort. In the multivariate analysis, a long time before salvage WBRT (≥16 months), control of primary BC or extracranial metastases, systemic treatment after salvage WBRT, and administration of a biologically effective dose for an α/β of 10 Gy (BED10) of salvage WBRT >37.5 Gy showed superior OS. We proposed three RPA classes based on the control of both primary BC and extracranial metastasis and BED10 of salvage WBRT: class I, class II, and class III. In this model, patients with class I experienced the best OS (34.6 months; class II, 5.0 months; class III, 2.4 months; P < 0.001).ConclusionsIn our RPA classification according to the control of both primary BC and extracranial metastasis and the dose of salvage WBRT, significant differences in OS were observed. The subsequent use of a systemic treatment showed better OS.     

The role of postoperative radiotherapy after resection of single brain metastases

To assess the value of whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) after complete resection of a single brain metastasis we reviewed the records of 98 patients who had elective craniotomy between 1978 and 1985. Seventy-nine patients received postoperative WBRT (Group A) and 19 patients no radiotherapy (RT) (Group B). Neurological relapse was designated as local (i.e., at the site of the original metastasis) or distant (i.e., elsewhere in the brain). Postoperative WBRT significantly prolonged the time to any neurological relapse (P = 0.034) with a 1-year recurrence rate of 22% in Group A and 46% in Group B patients; however, it did not specifically control either local or distant cerebral recurrence. Recurrence of metastatic brain disease was not affected by location of the original lesion; however, meningeal relapse occurred in 38% of cerebellar lesions, but only in 4.7% of supratentorial metastases (P = 0.003). The total radiation dose or fractionation scheme of RT did not affect survival nor time to neurological relapse. The median survival was 20.6 and 14.4 months for Groups A and B, respectively (not statistically different). Forty-eight percent of Group A and 47% of Group B patients survived for 1 year or longer; however, 11% of patients who had received RT and survived 1 year developed severe radiation-induced dementia. All patients with radiation-related cerebral damage received hypo-fractionated RT with high daily fractions as commonly designed for rapid palliation of macroscopic brain metastases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Treatment of patients with primary glioblastoma multiforme with standard postoperative radiotherapy and radiosurgical boost: prognostic factors and long-term outcome.

OBJECT: To assess the value of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) as adjunct therapy in patients suffering from glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the authors analyzed their experience with 78 patients. METHODS: Between June 1988 and January 1995, 78 patients underwent SRS as part of their initial treatment for GBM. All patients had undergone initial surgery or biopsy confirming the diagnosis of GBM and received conventional external beam radiotherapy. Stereotactic radiosurgery was performed using a dedicated 6-MV stereotactic linear accelerator. Thirteen patients were alive at the time of analysis with a median follow-up period of 40.8 months. The median length of actuarial survival for all patients was 19.9 months. Twelve- and 24-month survival rates were 88.5% and 35.9%, respectively. Patient age and Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) class were significant prognostic indicators according to univariate analysis (p < 0.05). Twenty-three patients aged younger than 40 years had a median survival time of 48.6 months compared with 55 older patients who had 18.2 months (p < 0.001). Patients in this series fell into RTOG Classes III (27 patients), IV (29 patients), or V (22 patients). Class III patients had a median survival time of 29.5 months following diagnosis; this was significantly longer than median survival times for Classes IV and V, which were 19.2 and 18.2 months, respectively (p = 0.001). Only patient age (< 40 years) was a significant prognostic factor according to multivariate analysis. Acute complications were unusual and limited to exacerbation of existing symptoms. There were no new neuropathies secondary to SRS. Thirty-nine patients (50%) underwent reoperation for symptomatic necrosis or recurrent tumor. The rate of reoperation at 24 months following SRS was 54.8%. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of a radiosurgery boost appears to confer a survival advantage to selected patients.     

Prognostic factors in patients treated with stereotactic image-guided robotic radiosurgery for brain metastases: a single-center retrospective analysis of 223 patients

In this retrospective study, we evaluated the overall survival (OS) and local control (LC) of brain metastases (BM) in patients treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). The scope was to identify host, tumor, and treatment factors predictive of LC and survival and define implications for clinical decisions. A total of 223 patients with 360 BM from various histologies treated with SRS alone or associated with whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) in our institution between July 1, 2008 and August 31, 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Among other prognostic factors, we had also evaluated retrospectively Karnofsky performance status scores (KPS) and graded prognostic assessment (GPA). Overall survival (OS) and local control (LC) were the primary endpoints. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate OS and LC and identify factors predictive of survival and local control. The median duration of follow-up time was 9 months (range 0.4–51 months). Median overall survival of all patients was 11 months. The median local control was 38 months. No statistical difference in terms of survival or LC between patients treated with SRS alone or associated with WBRT was found. On multivariate analysis, KPS was the only statistically significant predictor of OS (hazard ratio [HR] 2.53, p?=?0.006). On univariate analysis, KPS and GPA were significantly prognostic for survival. None of the host, tumor, or treatment factors analyzed in the univariate model factors were significantly associated with local failure.     

大肠癌脑转移的临床特征及其手术治疗

目的 分析大肠癌脑转移的临床特征及其手术治疗转归. 方法回顾性分析手术治疗的大肠癌伴脑转移28例患者的临床资料,统计数据采用单因素Log-Rank分析和多因素Cox回归分析法.结果 大肠癌继发脑转移的中位年龄为57(41～75)岁,原发肿瘤与转移瘤间隔的中位时间为13.5个月,其中合并颅外(肺、肝、骨)转移占61%(17/28),仅有脑转移的占39%(11/28).脑转移瘤主要表现为头痛、呕吐等颅内压升高征候群和偏瘫、下肢乏力、失语等定位症状以及癫痫等,颅内转移瘤以单发病灶为多见,占82%(23/28),位于幕上(枕叶、顶叶、额叶)者占57%(16/28),位于幕下(小脑)者占43%(12/28);转移性脑瘤手术切除后中位生存时间为9.4个月,1年生存率为28.9%,5年生存率为7.1%.多因素分析提示颅内单发病灶转移(χ2=7.35,P<0.05)和无颅外其他部位转移(χ2=6.47,P<0.05)是大肠癌脑转移预后的独立影响因素.28例均接受手术切除和多学科协作治疗,无手术死亡和出血及再手术病例.结论 大肠癌脑转移总体预后欠佳,手术切除脑转移病灶可延长部分患者的存活时间.     

大肠癌脑转移的临床特征及其手术治疗

目的 分析大肠癌脑转移的临床特征及其手术治疗转归. 方法回顾性分析手术治疗的大肠癌伴脑转移28例患者的临床资料,统计数据采用单因素Log-Rank分析和多因素Cox回归分析法.结果 大肠癌继发脑转移的中位年龄为57(41～75)岁,原发肿瘤与转移瘤间隔的中位时间为13.5个月,其中合并颅外(肺、肝、骨)转移占61%(17/28),仅有脑转移的占39%(11/28).脑转移瘤主要表现为头痛、呕吐等颅内压升高征候群和偏瘫、下肢乏力、失语等定位症状以及癫痫等,颅内转移瘤以单发病灶为多见,占82%(23/28),位于幕上(枕叶、顶叶、额叶)者占57%(16/28),位于幕下(小脑)者占43%(12/28);转移性脑瘤手术切除后中位生存时间为9.4个月,1年生存率为28.9%,5年生存率为7.1%.多因素分析提示颅内单发病灶转移(χ2=7.35,P<0.05)和无颅外其他部位转移(χ2=6.47,P<0.05)是大肠癌脑转移预后的独立影响因素.28例均接受手术切除和多学科协作治疗,无手术死亡和出血及再手术病例.结论 大肠癌脑转移总体预后欠佳,手术切除脑转移病灶可延长部分患者的存活时间.     

Efficacy and limitations of salvage gamma knife radiosurgery for brain metastases of small-cell lung cancer after whole-brain radiotherapy

Background

The efficacy and limitations of salvage gamma knife surgery (GKS) have not been thoroughly described. This study evaluated the efficacy of GKS for treating brain metastases associated with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) after whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) as the first-line radiation therapy.

Methods

Forty-four patients with recurrent or new SCLC-associated brain metastases underwent GKS after receiving WBRT (median age, 62 years; median duration between WBRT and first GKS, 8.8 months). The median Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score was 100 (range, 40–100), and the median number of brain metastases at the first GKS was five. Ten patients who partially or completely responded to chemotherapy received prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) for limited disease.

Results

The median prescribed dose and number of lesions treated with the initial GKS were 20.0 Gy and 3.5, respectively, and the tumor control rate was 95.8 % (median follow-up period, 4.0 months). The 6-month new lesion-free survival, functional preservation rates, and overall survival were 50.0 %, 94.7 %, and 5.8 months, respectively. Neurological death occurred in 17.9 % of cases. The poor prognostic factors for new lesion-free survival time and functional preservation were >5 brain metastases and carcinomatous meningitis, respectively. Poor prognostic factors for survival time were KPS <70, >10 brain metastases, diameter of the largest tumor >20 mm, and carcinomatous meningitis. Median overall survival time from brain metastasis diagnosis was 16.9 months.

Conclusions

GKS may be an effective option for controlling SCLC-associated brain metastases after WBRT and for preventing neurological death in patients without carcinomatous meningitis.     

Stereotactic radiosurgical treatment of parenchymal brain metastases from prostate adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer metastatic to the brain is uncommon and has been associated historically with a poor prognosis. It has been suggested that SRS may be an effective treatment. METHODS: We analyzed a prospective, institutional review board-approved database of patients treated with SRS and identified 5 patients with prostate cancer metastasis. Clinical, pathologic, radiographic, treatment, and outcome information regarding the primary/systemic disease status, and brain metastases were collected. RESULTS: Mean age at the time of treatment for CNS parenchymal metastasis was 72.0 +/- 8.3 years and lesions developed 82.0 +/- 65.1 months after the initial tumor was identified. Four patients had a single lesion and 1 had 4; 3 patients were treated with SRS alone, 1 with WBRT and SRS, and 1 with surgery, then WBRT and SRS. All were symptomatic. Stereotactic radiosurgery controlled the brain metastases in all 5 patients, with functional improvement and with a typical increase of 1 grade in the Karnofsky performance score. Mean survival was at least 10.0 +/- 6.7 months (range, 6-22+ months). Two patients died of conditions unrelated to prostate cancer and 2 of systemic disease progression; 1is alive and asymptomatic. There were no local SRS failures and no new CNS lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Stereotactic radiosurgery for prostate cancer metastatic to the brain, alone or in combination with brain radiation therapy and surgery, is a safe, effective treatment that improves neurologic symptoms and function and may prolong survival.     

大肠癌脑转移的临床特征及其手术治疗

目的 分析大肠癌脑转移的临床特征及其手术治疗转归. 方法回顾性分析手术治疗的大肠癌伴脑转移28例患者的临床资料,统计数据采用单因素Log-Rank分析和多因素Cox回归分析法.结果 大肠癌继发脑转移的中位年龄为57(41～75)岁,原发肿瘤与转移瘤间隔的中位时间为13.5个月,其中合并颅外(肺、肝、骨)转移占61%(17/28),仅有脑转移的占39%(11/28).脑转移瘤主要表现为头痛、呕吐等颅内压升高征候群和偏瘫、下肢乏力、失语等定位症状以及癫痫等,颅内转移瘤以单发病灶为多见,占82%(23/28),位于幕上(枕叶、顶叶、额叶)者占57%(16/28),位于幕下(小脑)者占43%(12/28);转移性脑瘤手术切除后中位生存时间为9.4个月,1年生存率为28.9%,5年生存率为7.1%.多因素分析提示颅内单发病灶转移(χ2=7.35,P<0.05)和无颅外其他部位转移(χ2=6.47,P<0.05)是大肠癌脑转移预后的独立影响因素.28例均接受手术切除和多学科协作治疗,无手术死亡和出血及再手术病例.结论 大肠癌脑转移总体预后欠佳,手术切除脑转移病灶可延长部分患者的存活时间.     

Retrospective study of 127 surgically treated patients with multiple brain metastases: indication, prognostic factors, and outcome

Background

Metastases are the most frequent tumours in the brain. At the time of diagnosis, more than 50% of patients present with multiple lesions. The goal of our retrospective investigation was to evaluate the outcome of patients who undergo surgery for multiple cerebral metastases and to determine prognostic factors.

Methods

We included 127 patients with multiple brain metastases in the study. The median number of metastases was three. All patients were operated on for at least one lesion. The indications for surgery were: large tumours ≥27 cm³, metastases of unknown primaries at the time of diagnosis, and space-occupying cerebellar lesions. If possible, adjuvant WBRT was applied.

Results

The median MST of the whole group was 6.5 months; for patients with complete resection, 10.6 months. According to the RPA classification the MST ranged between 19.4 (class I), 7.8 (class II), and 3.4 months (class III) (p < 0.001). KPS?>?70 had a significant influence on MST (9.1 months vs. 3.4 months, p?<?0.001), the number of lesions: 2–4 vs. >4 (p?=?0.046), and postoperative WBRT in multivariate analysis (p?=?0.026). Age was not a significant factor. The 2-year survival rate was 15% and the 3-year survival rate 10%.

Conclusions

Favourable factors for prolonged survival were complete resection of all lesions, no more than four metastases, RPA-class I and adjuvant WBRT. The resection of large lesions, while leaving smaller residual ones, did not result in increased survival.     

Gastric Cancer and Metastasis to the Brain

Background: Metastasis of gastric carcinoma to the brain is very uncommon. At The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (M. D. Anderson), less than 1% of patients with primary gastric carcinoma are found to have brain metastases. Little has been published regarding the evaluation and treatment of these patients. The purpose of this study was to review our experience with gastric cancer metastatic to the brain and to describe the efficacy of the treatment used.Methods: Between 1957 and 1997, a total of 218,690 patients were seen for evaluation of malignant tumors at M. D. Anderson. Of these patients, 3320 (1.5%) had a diagnosis of gastric cancer; however, only 24 patients (0.7%) were found to have brain metastases on imaging studies or at autopsy. We performed a retrospective review of these 24 patients and divided them into three groups on the basis of the treatment they received.Results: Group 1 included patients who received steroids alone (16 mg of dexamethasone, daily). Group 2 patients received 3000 cGy of whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) delivered in 10 fractions in addition to steroids. Group 3 patients were managed with surgical resection, WBRT, and steroids. There were 18 male and 6 female patients, with a median age of 53 years. The most common presenting symptoms were weakness, difficulty with balance, and headache. Of the 19 patients diagnosed antemortem, 11 patients developed neurological symptoms after the primary diagnosis of gastric carcinoma, whereas 8 patients developed neurological symptoms before the diagnosis of gastric cancer. Forty-five percent of patients had a single brain metastasis, whereas 55% had multiple lesions. All patients had systemic disease, with bone, liver, and lung involvement seen in 46%, 42%, and 29%, respectively. Nineteen of 24 patients received treatment after diagnosis of brain metastases. Four patients received steroids only (group 1), 11 patients received WBRT and steroids (group 2), and 4 patients were treated with surgery, WBRT, and steroids (group 3). Median survival was approximately 2 months for patients in groups 1 and 2, whereas group 3 patients had a median survival of slightly greater than 1 year.Conclusions: Our results suggest that the overall prognosis of patients with brain metastases from gastric cancer is extremely poor (median survival, 9 weeks). WBRT, as an adjuvant to steroid treatment, was not effective in improving outcome in our series. In selected patients, most of whom were relatively young and had less advanced systemic disease, surgical resection followed by WBRT was associated with relatively long survival times (median survival, 54 weeks).     

Ambulatory radiosurgery in cerebral metastatic renal cell carcinoma. 5-year outcome in 58 patients

Brain metastases (BM) indicate an advanced stage of renal cell cancer (RCC). They pose an increasing challenge to urologists as a result of improved survival due to modern therapy. Median survival of untreated patients with BM who often suffer from neurological deficits is 3 months. Radiosurgery with the Gamma Knife (GK) has increased in use as an alternative to whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) and/or surgery. This study reports the results of a consecutive series of RCC patients treated for BM by GK radiosurgery during a 5-year period. Between 1994 and 1999, 58 patients with a total of 277 BM and 3.0 (1-19) BM/patient were treated. Because of recurrent BM, 23 (40%) patients received repeated (multiple) GK sessions. The median tumor volume was 3.4 cm3 (0.1-19.1). The median interval between diagnosis of RCC and GK treatment was 2.2 years (0.1-17.2). Symptomatic side effects were detected in 9 (16%) of 58 patients. The median actuarial survival time was 9.9 months. Local tumor control could be achieved in 95% of patients. The GK therapy induced a significant tumor remission accompanied by rapid neurological improvement in 70% of patients. Compared to standard radiotherapy, GK radiosurgery is more effective, less time consuming, and can be repeated. Compared to surgery, radiosurgery is less invasive and better suited to treat multiple metastases in one single session. Surgery and radiosurgery, however, are supplementary methods that are highly effective to control intracerebral metastasizing RCC.