BRAIN-ONLY METASTASES OF SMALL-CELL LUNG-CANCER - EFFICACY OF WHOLE-BRAIN RADIOTHERAPY - AN EORTC PHASE-II STUDY

Background and purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of WBRT as a single t reatment modality in patients with brain metastases of small cell lung cancer. Patients and methods: The patients had brain metastases of sm all cell lung cancer without any sign of tumour outside the brain and were treated with 10 x 3.0 Gy WBRT. Response and neurological function s were evaluated after 6, 18 and 36 weeks. Results: Twenty of 22 eligi ble patients were evaluable for response. In six patients a complete r esponse was seen and in five patients a partial response was seen givi ng a response rate of 50% (95% CI 28-72%). Response duration was 5.4 m onths (range 63-260 days) and median survival was 4.7 months (range 14 -743 days). In the majority of patients the first site of progression after WBRT was in the central nervous system. Twelve of the patients h ad stabilization or improvement of the neurological function. Conclusi on: WBRT for brain metastases of small cell lung cancer gives a 50% re sponse rate with stabilization or improvement of neurological function . Response duration and survival are short. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.