scholarly journals Brain Metastases in Soft Tissue Sarcomas: Case Report and Literature Review

Sarcoma ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 9 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 147-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tejpal Gupta ◽  
Siddhartha Laskar ◽  
Sumeet Gujral ◽  
Mary Ann Muckaden

Background and purpose:Brain metastasis is a relatively uncommon event in the natural history of soft tissue sarcomas. The increasing use of chemotherapy may have caused a reduction in local relapses as well as distant failures leading to an improvement in survival, thereby allowing metachronous seeding of the brain, a sanctuary site. The purpose of this report is to increase awareness amongst clinicians regarding such a possibility.Patients and methods:A review of the departmental sarcoma database following the presentation of this index case in the clinic.Results and discussion:An adolescent male who had previously been treated with surgery and radiotherapy for a spindle cell sarcoma of the left thigh developed a space-occupying lesion in the brain within 6 months of treatment of the primary tumor. He subsequently underwent resection of the presumed solitary brain metastasis followed by whole brain radiotherapy. On radiation he was detected to have pulmonary metastases too, for which he was offered palliative chemotherapy. The patient died of brain metastasis within 4 months. A review of the departmental sarcoma database, restricted to soft tissue sarcomas purely, maintained prospectively from 2000 till date, could not identify any other such case.Conclusion:Brain metastases from soft tissue sarcomas are rare. Patients with neurological symptoms, however, should be appropriately investigated. Surgical resection of brain metastasis could be considered for solitary brain metastasis in non-eloquent areas. Palliative radiotherapy is appropriate for patients with multiple brain metastases or co-existing extra-cranial disease.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minmin Li ◽  
Yanbo Song ◽  
Longhao Li ◽  
Jian Qin ◽  
Hongbin Deng ◽  
...  

Whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for brain metastases (BMs) was considered to be dose limited. Reirradiation of WBRT for recurrent BM has always been challenged. Here, we report a patient with multiple BMs of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), who received two courses of WBRT at the interval of 5 years with the cumulative administration dose for whole brain as 70 Gy and a boost for the local site as 30 Gy. Furthermore, after experiencing relapse in the brain, he underwent extra gamma knife (GK) radiotherapy for local brain metastasis for the third time after 5 years. The overall survival was 12 years since he was initially diagnosed with NSCLC with multiple brain metastases. Meanwhile, each time of radiotherapy brought a good tumor response to brain metastasis. Outstandingly, during the whole survival, he had a good quality of life (QoL) with Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) above 80. Even after the last GK was executed, he had just a mild neurocognitive defect. In conclusion, with the cautious evaluation of a patient, we suggest that reirradiation of WBRT could be a choice, and the cumulative radiation dose of the brain may be individually modified.


Author(s):  
Yukinori Okada ◽  
Mariko Kobayashi ◽  
Mio Shinozaki ◽  
Tatsuyuki Abe ◽  
Naoki Nakamura

Abstract Aim: To identify prognostic factors and investigate patient survival after whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for initial brain metastases arising from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Patients diagnosed with NSCLC between 1 January 2010 and 30 September 2019, and who received WBRT upon first developing a brain metastasis, were investigated. Overall survival was determined as related to age, sex, duration between initial examination and brain metastasis detection, stage at the first examination, presence of metastases outside the brain, blood analysis findings, brain metastasis symptoms, radiotherapy dose and completion, imaging findings, therapeutic course of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, histological type, and gene mutation status. Results: Thirty-one consecutive patients (20 men and 11 women) with a mean age of 63·8 years and median survival of 129 days were included. Multivariate analysis with stepwise testing was performed to investigate differences in survival according to gene mutation status, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, irradiation dose, WBRT completion and Stage status. Of these, a statistically significant difference in survival was observed in patients with gene mutation status (hazard ratio: 0·31, 95% CI: 0·11–0·86, p = 0·025), LDH levels <230 vs. ≥230 IU/L (hazard ratio: 4·08, 95% CI: 1·45–11·5, p < 0·01) received 30 Gy, 30 Gy/10 fractions to 35 Gy/14 fractions, and 37·5 Gy/15 fractions (hazard ratio: 0·26, 95% CI: 0·09–0·71, p < 0·01), and stage IV versus non-stage IV (hazard ratio: 0·13, 95 CI:0·02–0·64, p < 0·01) Findings: Gene mutation, LDH, radiation dose and Stage are prognostic factors for patients with initial brain metastases who are treated with WBRT.


2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 345-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Urakawa ◽  
Satoshi Tsukushi ◽  
Eiji Kozawa ◽  
Kunihiro Ikuta ◽  
Shunsuke Hamada ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 239 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Rodin ◽  
B. Banihashemi ◽  
L. Wang ◽  
A. Lau ◽  
S. Harris ◽  
...  

Purpose We evaluated the feasibility, reliability, and validity of the Brain Metastases Symptom Checklist (BMSC), a novel self-report measure of common symptoms experienced by patients with brain metastases.Methods Patients with first-presentation symptomatic brain metastases (n = 137) referred for whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) completed the BMSC at time points before and after treatment. Their caregivers (n = 48) provided proxy ratings twice on the day of consultation to assess reliability, and at week 4 after WBRT to assess responsiveness to change. Correlations with 4 other validated assessment tools were evaluated.Results The symptoms reported on the BMSC were largely mild to moderate, with tiredness (71%) and difficulties with balance (61%) reported most commonly at baseline. Test–retest reliability for individual symptoms had a median intraclass correlation of 0.59 (range: 0.23–0.85). Caregiver proxy and patient responses had a median intraclass correlation of 0.52. Correlation of absolute scores on the BMSC and other symptom assessment tools was low, but consistency in the direction of symptom change was observed. At week 4, change in symptoms was variable, with improvements in weight gain and sleep of 42% and 41% respectively, and worsening of tiredness and drowsiness of 62% and 59% respectively.Conclusions The BMSC captures a wide range of symptoms experienced by patients with brain metastases, and it is sensitive to change. It demonstrated adequate test–retest reliability and face validity in terms of its responsiveness to change. Future research is needed to determine whether modifications to the BMSC itself or correlation with more symptom-specific measures will enhance validity. 


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i3-i3
Author(s):  
Katie Thies ◽  
Anisha Hammer ◽  
Blake Hildreth ◽  
Luke Russell ◽  
Steven Sizemore ◽  
...  

Abstract Stromal platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta (PDGFRβ) has emerged as an actionable mediator of breast tumor-stromal communication. As a receptor tyrosine kinase, PDGFRβ is activated by its ligand, PDGFB, which is released by neighboring tumor epithelium and endothelium. However, how PDGF signaling mediates breast cancer (BC) initiation, progression, and metastasis remains unclear. To evaluate PDGFRβ in this disease, we developed a mouse model of stromal-specific PDGFRβ activation using the Fsp-cre transgene previously published by our group. Mesenchymal-specific activation of PDGFRβ promotes preferential experimental brain metastasis of PDGFB-expressing mammary tumor cells when injected intravenously and accelerates intracranial tumor growth of these cells. Mammary tumor cells expressing low levels of PDGFB do not exhibit a similar increase in brain metastases in PDGFRβ mutant mice. To our knowledge, this is the first example where genetic manipulation of the stroma leads to an increased incidence of BCBM. Our pre-clinical data suggests that primary breast tumors that express high PDGFB could preferentially metastasize to the brain. To test this in patients, we analyzed PDGFB protein expression in a tissue microarray comprised of HER2-positive and triple negative BC primary tumors. While high PDGFB did not correlate with site-independent metastatic recurrence, it was prognostic of brain metastasis, mirroring our mouse data. Our findings suggest that high primary tumor PDGFB expression defines a subset of BC patients predisposed to brain metastases. These patients may benefit from therapeutic intervention of PDGFRβ signaling. To test this pre-clinically, we treated mice harboring intracranial tumors with the PDGFR-specific inhibitor, crenolanib. Excitingly, crenolanib treatment significantly inhibited the brain tumor burden in these mice. Combined, our findings (1) advocate that primary tumor expression of PDGFB is a novel prognostic biomarker for the development of BCBM and (2) support clinical trial evaluation of PDGFR inhibitors for the prevention and treatment of BCBM.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_5) ◽  
pp. v26-v34
Author(s):  
Vinai Gondi ◽  
Jacquelyn Meyer ◽  
Helen A Shih

Abstract As novel systemic therapies yield improved survival in metastatic cancer patients, the frequency of brain metastases continues to increase. Over the years, management strategies have continued to evolve. Historically, stereotactic radiosurgery has been used as a boost to whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) but is increasingly being used as a replacement for WBRT. Given its capacity to treat both macro- and micro-metastases in the brain, WBRT has been an important management strategy for years, and recent research has identified technologic and pharmacologic approaches to delivering WBRT more safely. In this review, we outline the current landscape of radiotherapeutic treatment options and discuss approaches to integrating radiotherapy advances in the contemporary management of brain metastases.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii87-iii88
Author(s):  
F Bruno ◽  
E Pronello ◽  
S Bortolani ◽  
R Palmiero ◽  
A Melcarne ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Central nervous system (CNS) metastases from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (HL) are very rare, occurring in 0.02–0.5% of cases. They are usually associated to systemic relapse of the disease. Treatment options for HL brain metastases include surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic chemotherapy. CASE REPORT A 54 year-old woman presented with thoracic pain and dyspnea. Chest CT showed a thoracic bulky mass larger than 10 cm. Biopsy confirmed HL stage IIA, nodular sclerosing variant. No typical B symptoms, such as fever, night sweats or weight loss, were observed. The patient underwent chemotherapy with doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD scheme), followed by 30Gy mediastinic radiotherapy (RT), which led to complete remission in September 2017. After 3 months, she presented with headache and rapidly progressing gait disorder. MRI showed a contrast-enhanced lesion in the right occipital lobe, with central necrosis and massive edema. Total-body CT scan and FDG-PET ruled out either the presence of new solid tumors or systemic relapses of HL. Gross total resection of the brain lesion was carried out, and HL histology was confirmed. CSF analysis from lumbar puncture was normal. Afterwards, the patient underwent 2 cycles of high dose cytarabine, but she rapidly progressed, and received salvage RT (30 Gy). Nevertheless, further systemic progression occurred: the patient developed headache, diplopia and dysphagia and, unfortunately, she died 6 months after the diagnosis of brain metastasis. DISCUSSION Thus far, only 45 cases of CNS HL have been reported from 2000 to 2018. Whole brain radiotherapy, with or without chemotherapy, was the most common treatment. In our patient, we chose surgical resection for the solitary brain metastasis followed by chemotherapy, delaying RT at recurrence. In the literature, median overall survival of patients diagnosed with brain metastases from HL is 18 months (1–273): 17 patients (38%) showed a progression (local / systemic: 12/17 - 71%), while 28 (62%) showed complete remission after a median follow-up of 20 months (6–273). CONCLUSION Intracranial localisation of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is a rare entity but still has to be taken into account. Advanced brain imaging could be of help in case of uncertain radiological presentation. A multidisciplinary approach is needed as there is no consensus on the best treatment to choose: surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy should be considered on individual basis.


2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (19) ◽  
pp. 3400-3408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pieter E. Postmus ◽  
Hanny Haaxma-Reiche ◽  
Egbert F. Smit ◽  
Harry J. M. Groen ◽  
Hanna Karnicka ◽  
...  

PURPOSE: Approximately 60% of patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) develop brain metastases. Whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) gives symptomatic improvement in more than 50% of these patients. Because brain metastases are a sign of systemic progression, and chemotherapy was found to be effective as well, it becomes questionable whether WBRT is the only appropriate therapy in this situation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a phase III study, SCLC patients with brain metastases were randomized to receive teniposide with or without WBRT. Teniposide 120 mg/m2 was given intravenously three times a week, every 3 weeks. WBRT (10 fractions of 3 Gy) had to start within 3 weeks from the start of chemotherapy. Response was measured clinically and by computed tomography of the brain. RESULTS: One hundred twenty eligible patients were randomized. A 57% response rate was seen in the combined-modality arm (95% confidence interval [CI], 43% to 69%), and a 22% response rate was seen in the teniposide-alone arm (95% CI, 12% to 34%) (P < .001). Time to progression in the brain was longer in the combined-modality group (P = .005). Clinical response and response outside the brain were not different. The median survival time was 3.5 months in the combined-modality arm and 3.2 months in the teniposide-alone arm. Overall survival in both groups was not different (P = .087). CONCLUSION: Adding WBRT to teniposide results in a much higher response rate of brain metastases and in a longer time to progression of brain metastases than teniposide alone. Survival was poor in both groups and not significantly different.


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