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Published in: Radiation Oncology 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research

Radiotherapy for asymptomatic brain metastasis in epidermal growth factor receptor mutant non-small cell lung cancer without prior tyrosine kinase inhibitors treatment: a retrospective clinical study

Authors: SongRan Liu, Bo Qiu, LiKun Chen, Fang Wang, Ying Liang, PeiQiang Cai, Li Zhang, ZhaoLin Chen, ShiLiang Liu, MengZhong Liu, Hui Liu

Published in: Radiation Oncology | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with brain metastasis (BM) harboring an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation shows good response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). This study is to assess the appropriate timing of brain radiotherapy (RT) for asymptomatic BM in EGFR mutant NSCLC patients.

Methods

There were 628 patients diagnosed with EGFR mutant NSCLC between October 2005 and December 2011. Treatment outcomes had been retrospectively evaluated in 96 patients with asymptomatic BM without prior TKI treatment. 39 patients received first-line brain RT, 23 patients received delayed brain RT, and 34 patients did not receive brain RT.

Results

With a median follow-up of 26 months, the 2-year OS was 40.6 %. Univariate analyses revealed that ECOG performance status (p = 0.006), other distant metastases (p = 0.002) and first line systemic treatment (p = 0.032) were significantly associated with overall survival (OS). Multivariate analyses revealed that other sites of distant metastases (p = 0.030) were prognostic factor. The timing of brain RT was not significantly related to OS (p = 0.246). The 2-year BM progression-free survival (PFS) was 26.9 %. Brain RT as first-line therapy failed to demonstrate a significant association with BM PFS (p = 0.643).

Conclusions

First-line brain RT failed to improve long-term survival in TKI-naïve EGFR mutant NSCLC patients with asymptomatic BM. Prospective studies are needed to validate these clinical findings.
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Metadata
Title
Radiotherapy for asymptomatic brain metastasis in epidermal growth factor receptor mutant non-small cell lung cancer without prior tyrosine kinase inhibitors treatment: a retrospective clinical study
Authors
SongRan Liu
Bo Qiu
LiKun Chen
Fang Wang
Ying Liang
PeiQiang Cai
Li Zhang
ZhaoLin Chen
ShiLiang Liu
MengZhong Liu
Hui Liu
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Radiation Oncology / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1748-717X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13014-015-0421-9

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