Second course of stereotactic radiosurgery for locally recurrent brain metastases: Safety and efficacy

PLoS One. 2018 Apr 5;13(4):e0195608. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195608. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

In the present study, we have evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of repeated brain metastases (BM) stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS2) following local failure of a prior radiosurgical procedure (SRS1). Between December 1996 and August 2015, 30 patients with 36 BM underwent SRS2 with a median dose of 18Gy. All BM were located outside critical structures. Following SRS2, local control at 6 months and one year were respectively 82.9% (IC 95%: 67.6-91.9) and 67.8% (IC 95%: 51-81). On multivariate analysis, planning target volume (PTV) < 3cc (HR: 0.19 (0.1-0.52)) and whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) prior to SRS2 (HR: 0.25 (0.1-0.64)) were significantly associated with a better local control. One- and two-year overall survival rates after SRS2 were respectively 65.5% (IC 95%: 47.3-80%) and 27.6% (IC 95%: 14.7-45.7). Median overall survival following SRS2 was 14.2 months (range 1-106). Nineteen (63%) patients died from progressive systemic disease. Three (10%) patients died from out-field progressive brain disease and 8 (27%) in-field. Concerning toxicities, edema, radionecrosis, and hemorrhages were identified in 5 (12.8%), 4 (10.2%), and 5 (12.8%) patients respectively. No toxicity resulted in a neurological deficit. On univariate analysis, toxicities were significantly associated with PTV > 7cc (p = 0.02) and all patients had a WBRT before SRS2. A second course of SRS for locally recurrent brain metastases showed encouraging rates of local control. This treatment led to acceptable toxicities, especially for brain metastases smaller than 7cc, in our selected cohort of patients with BM located outside critical structures. Further studies are needed.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Neoplasms / mortality
  • Brain Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Cranial Irradiation / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / diagnostic imaging
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / mortality
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / radiotherapy*
  • Radiosurgery* / adverse effects
  • Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted
  • Re-Irradiation* / adverse effects
  • Salvage Therapy* / adverse effects
  • Survival Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome

Grants and funding

The authors received no specific funding for this work.