| Chao Wan,Biao Chen,Yuanshi Liu,Ximing Xu. Whole-brain radiation therapy alone vs. combined therapy with stereotactic radiosurgery for the treatment of limited brain metastases: A systematic review. Oncol Transl Med, 2019, 5: 114-118. |
| Whole-brain radiation therapy alone vs. combined therapy with stereotactic radiosurgery for the treatment of limited brain metastases: A systematic review |
| Received:March 24, 2019 Revised:July 04, 2019 |
| View Full Text View/Add Comment Download reader |
| KeyWord:limited brain metastases; stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS); whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT); systematic review |
| Author Name | Affiliation | E-mail | | Chao Wan | Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University | 583186126@qq.com | | Biao Chen | Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University | | | Yuanshi Liu | Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University | | | Ximing Xu | Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University | doctorxu120@aliyun.com |
|
| Hits: 5794 |
| Download times: 6767 |
| Abstract: |
| Objective The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy and safety of whole brain radiotherapy
(WBRT) used alone and combined with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the treatment of limited (1–4)
brain metastases.
Methods We searched for randomized controlled and matched-pair analysis trials comparing WBRT
plus SRS versus WBRT alone for brain metastases. The primary outcomes were the overall survival (OS),
intracranial control (IC), and localcontrol (LC). The secondary outcome was radiation toxicity. The log
hazard ratios (lnHRs) and their variances were extracted from published Kaplan-Meier curves and pooled
using the generic inverse variance method in the RevMan 5.3 software. The non-pooled outcome measures
were evaluated using descriptive analysis.
Results Three randomized controlled trials and two matched-pair analysis studies were included. There
was no difference in the OS for limited brain metastases between the two groups [lnHR 0.91 (95% CI
0.76–1.09, P = 0.32) vs. 0.72 (95% CI 0.44–1.19, P = 0.20)]. The LC and IC were significantly higher in
the combined treatment group [lnHR 0.69 (95% CI 0.55–0.86, P = 0.001) vs. 0.41 (95% CI 0.29–0.58, P
< 0.0001)]. For patients with a single lesion, one trial showed a higher survival in the combined treatment
group (median OS: 6.5 months vs. 4.9 months, P = 0.04). The combined treatment was not associated with
significantly higher incidence of radiation toxicity.
Conclusion Combined treatment with WBRT plus SRS should be recommended for patients with limited
brain metastases based on the better LC and IC without increased toxicity. It should also be considered a
routine treatment option for patients with solitary brain metastases based on the prolonged OS. |
| Close |