FIRST LINE CHEMOTHERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH BRAIN METASTASES FROM NONSMALL AND SMALL-CELL LUNG-CANCER

In this study we evaluated the role of systemic chemotherapy in 23 pre viously untreated patients with brain metastases from both non-small c ell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). In NSCLC gr oup, 2 patients out of 14 had a brain response after treatment (1 comp lete and 1 partial response). In the group of 9 patients with SCLC, we observed 5 brain responses (3 complete and 2 partial responses). Brai n responses were in accordance with extracranial responses although th is appeared more clearly in SCLC than in NSCLC patients.