Brain metastases in non-small-cell lung cancer

David E Dawe; Jeffrey N Greenspoon; Peter M Ellis

doi:10.1016/j.cllc.2014.04.008

Brain metastases in non-small-cell lung cancer

Clin Lung Cancer. 2014 Jul;15(4):249-57. doi: 10.1016/j.cllc.2014.04.008. Epub 2014 May 13.

Authors

David E Dawe¹, Jeffrey N Greenspoon², Peter M Ellis²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Electronic address: david.dawe@cancercare.mb.ca.
² Department of Oncology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

PMID: 24954227
DOI: 10.1016/j.cllc.2014.04.008

Abstract

Up to 50% of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer will develop brain metastases at some point during their illness. These metastases cause a substantial burden in morbidity and mortality, which has motivated research and technological innovation over the past 2 decades. Surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic therapies have each played a role in management, with the greatest changes associated with the popularization of stereotactic radiosurgery. In this review, the evidence behind each modality used in the management of brain metastases for non-small-cell lung cancer patients is examined, and recommendations regarding the current standards of care and areas of future research focus are provided.

Keywords: Chemotherapy; Radiotherapy; Review; Stereotactic radiosurgery; Targeted agents.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Biomedical Research
Brain Neoplasms / secondary
Brain Neoplasms / therapy*
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / secondary
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / therapy*
Drug Therapy
Humans
Lung Neoplasms / pathology
Lung Neoplasms / therapy*
Molecular Targeted Therapy
Radiosurgery*
Standard of Care*