Outcomes of re-irradiation for brain recurrence after prophylactic or therapeutic whole-brain irradiation for small cell lung Cancer: a retrospective analysis

Abstract

Background

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) can recur in the brain after whole-brain irradiation (WBI). We documented outcomes after treatment of such recurrences and sought predictors of local control and overall survival (OS).

Materials and methods

Eighty-five patients with SCLC and brain recurrence after prophylactic or therapeutic WBI in 1998–2015 were identified and data were extracted from the medical records. Survival was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method, and univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to identify factors associated with OS or further brain progression.

Results

Brain recurrence was treated by stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in 33 patients (39%), repeat WBI in 14 (16%), chemotherapy-only in 16 (19%), and observation in 22 (26%). Median OS time after brain recurrence (OSrec) was 4.3 months for all patients; 6-month OSrec rates were 58% after SRS, 21% after repeat WBI, 50% after chemotherapy-only, and 5% after observation (P < 0.001). Inferior OSrec was associated with poor performance status (ECOG score ≥ 3) and uncontrolled extracranial disease. Superior OSrec was associated with receipt of ≥4 chemotherapy cycles before brain recurrence and receipt of chemotherapy, SRS, or repeat WBI afterward. Receipt of chemotherapy after brain recurrence correlated with brain progression.

Conclusions

Some patients with brain recurrence after WBI for SCLC can survive for extended periods with appropriate intervention, especially those with adequate performance status or controlled extracranial disease.

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