scholarly journals Cost-effectiveness of stereotactic radiosurgery with and without whole-brain radiotherapy for the treatment of newly diagnosed brain metastases

2014 ◽  
Vol 121 (Suppl_2) ◽  
pp. 84-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew D. Hall ◽  
James L. McGee ◽  
Mackenzie C. McGee ◽  
Kevin A. Hall ◽  
David M. Neils ◽  
...  

ObjectStereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) alone is increasingly used in patients with newly diagnosed brain metastases. Stereotactic radiosurgery used together with whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) reduces intracranial failure rates, but this combination also causes greater neurocognitive toxicity and does not improve survival. Critics of SRS alone contend that deferring WBRT results in an increased need for salvage therapy and in higher costs. The authors compared the cost-effectiveness of treatment with SRS alone, SRS and WBRT (SRS+WBRT), and surgery followed by SRS (S+SRS) at the authors' institution.MethodsThe authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 289 patients in whom brain metastases were newly diagnosed and who were treated between May 2001 and December 2007. Overall survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate proportional hazards analysis (MVA) was used to identify factors associated with overall survival. Survival data were complete for 96.2% of patients, and comprehensive data on the resource use for imaging, hospitalizations, and salvage therapies were available from the medical records. Treatment costs included the cost of initial and all salvage therapies for brain metastases, hospitalizations, management of complications, and imaging. They were computed on the basis of the 2007 Medicare fee schedule from a payer perspective. Average treatment cost and average cost per month of median survival were compared. Sensitivity analysis was performed to examine the impact of variations in key cost variables.ResultsNo significant differences in overall survival were observed among patients treated with SRS alone, SRS+WBRT, or S+SRS with respective median survival of 9.8, 7.4, and 10.6 months. The MVA detected a significant association of overall survival with female sex, Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score, primary tumor control, absence of extracranial metastases, and number of brain metastases. Salvage therapy was required in 43% of SRS-alone and 26% of SRS+WBRT patients (p < 0.009). Despite an increased need for salvage therapy, the average cost per month of median survival was $2412 per month for SRS alone, $3220 per month for SRS+WBRT, and $4360 per month for S+SRS (p < 0.03). Compared with SRS+WBRT, SRS alone had an average incremental cost savings of $110 per patient. Sensitivity analysis confirmed that the average treatment cost of SRS alone remained less than or was comparable to SRS+WBRT over a wide range of costs and treatment efficacies.ConclusionsDespite an increased need for salvage therapy, patients with newly diagnosed brain metastases treated with SRS alone have similar overall survival and receive more cost-effective care than those treated with SRS+WBRT. Compared with SRS+WBRT, initial management with SRS alone does not result in a higher average cost.

2021 ◽  
pp. ijgc-2021-002906
Author(s):  
Eva Meixner ◽  
Tanja Eichkorn ◽  
Sinem Erdem ◽  
Laila König ◽  
Kristin Lang ◽  
...  

IntroductionStereotactic radiosurgery is a well-established treatment option in the management of brain metastases. Multiple prognostic scores for prediction of survival following radiotherapy exist, but are not disease-specific or validated for radiosurgery in women with primary pelvic gynecologic malignancies metastatic to the brain. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the feasibility, safety, outcomes, and impact of established prognostic scores.MethodsWe retrospectively identified 52 patients treated with radiotherapy for brain metastases between 2008 and 2021. Stereotactic radiosurgery was utilized in 31 patients for an overall number of 75 lesions; the remaining 21 patients received whole-brain radiotherapy. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the log-rank test were used to calculate and compare survival curves and univariate and multivariate Cox regression to assess the influence of cofactors on recurrence, local control, and prognosis.ResultsWith a median follow-up of 10.7 months, overall survival rates post radiosurgery were 65.3%, 51.3%, and 27.7% for 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively, which were significantly higher than post whole-brain radiotherapy (p=0.049). Five local failures (6.7%) were detected, resulting in 1 and 2 year local cerebral control rates of 97.4% and 94.0%, respectively. Univariate factors for prediction of superior overall survival were high performance status (p=0.030) and application of three prognostic scores, especially the Recursive Partitioning Analysis score (p=0.028). Uni- and multivariate analysis revealed that extracranial progression prior to radiosurgery was significant for inferior overall survival (p<0.0001). Radionecrosis was diagnosed in five women (16%); long-term neurotoxicity was significantly worse after whole-brain radiotherapy compared with radiosurgery (p=0.023).ConclusionStereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases from pelvic gynecologic malignancies appears to be safe and well tolerated, achieving promising local cerebral control. Prognostic scores were shown to be transferable and radiosurgery should be recommended as primary intracranial treatment, especially in women with no prior extracranial progression and Recursive Partitioning Analysis class I.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan T Hughes ◽  
Emory R McTyre ◽  
Michael LeCompte ◽  
Christina K Cramer ◽  
Michael T Munley ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND The role of primary stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for patients with >4 brain metastases (BM) remains controversial. OBJECTIVE To compare the outcomes of patients treated with upfront SRS alone for 1, 2 to 4, and 5 to 15 BM and assess for predictors of clinical outcomes in the 5 to 15 BM group. METHODS A total of 478 patients treated with upfront SRS were stratified by number of lesions: 220 had 1 BM, 190 had 2 to 4 BM, and 68 patients had 5 to 15 BM. Overall survival and whole brain radiotherapy-free survival were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. The cumulative incidences of local failure and distant brain failure (DBF) were estimated using competing risks methodology. Clinicopathologic and dosimetric parameters were evaluated as predictors of survival and DBF in patients with 5 to 15 BM using Cox proportional hazards. RESULTS Median overall survival was 8.0, 6.3, and 4.7 mo for patients with 1, 2 to 4, and 5 to 15 BM, respectively (P = .14). One-year DBF was 27%, 44%, and 40%, respectively (P = .01). Salvage SRS and whole brain radiotherapy rates did not differ. Progressive extracranial disease and gastrointestinal primary were associated with poor survival while RCC primary was associated with increased risk of DBF. No evaluated dose-volume parameters predicted for death, neurologic death or toxicity. CONCLUSION SRS for 5 to 15 BM is well tolerated without evidence of an associated increase in toxicity, treatment failure, or salvage therapy. Further prospective, randomized studies are warranted to clarify the role of SRS for these patients.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi58-vi58
Author(s):  
Alan Nichol ◽  
Srinivas Raman ◽  
Benjamin Mou ◽  
Fred Hsu ◽  
Boris Valev ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND The clinical advantage of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) over whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) in patients with brain metastases and poor prognosis is controversial. To investigate the feasibility of a phase III clinical trial in a population of patients with poor prognosis, we conducted a randomized feasibility study of WBRT versus SRS. METHODS Patients with Karnofsky performance status (KPS) ≥ 70, life expectancy of 3–6 months, based on both Diagnosis-Specific Graded Prognostic Assessments and attending oncologist opinion, and 1– 10 brain metastases with a diameter ≤ 4 cm were enrolled at six Canadian cancer centers. Patients were randomly assigned to WBRT (20 Gy in 5 fractions) or SRS (15 Gy in 1 fraction). The primary endpoint was the rate of accrual. A secondary endpoint was the ratio of screened subjects to accrued subjects. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02220491). RESULTS Between January 2015 and November 2017, 210 were screened to enroll 22 patients (9.5 screened/participant) and 20 patients were randomized. The accrual rate was 0.63 patients / month. The most common reasons for exclusion were: estimated median survival outside 3–6 months (n = 40), baseline KPS below 70 (n = 28), and > 10 brain metastases (n = 28). The median survival was 7.0 months. The overall survival was 9.5 months (n = 11) for patients who had subsequent systemic therapy, compared to 3.7 months (n = 9) in patients who had none. In both arms, the cumulative incidence of retreatment with brain radiotherapy was 40%. CONCLUSIONS Accrual was slow and the median survival was longer than expected, but a randomized trial evaluating WBRT vs SRS in patients with poor prognosis would likely be feasible by enrolling only patients with no remaining systemic therapy options.


Author(s):  
Fred Hsu ◽  
Alan Nichol ◽  
Roy Ma ◽  
Para Kouhestani ◽  
Brian Toyota ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground: To examine stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) following whole brain radiotherapy for metastases in eloquent, central brain locations: brainstem, thalamus, and basal ganglia. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients with metastases in eloquent, central brain locations who were treated with SRS between January 2000 and April 2012. All patients had whole brain radiotherapy. Patients eligible for SRS had one to three brain metastases, metastasis size ≤4 cm, and Karnofsky performance status ≥70. Local progression-free survival and overall survival were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: For 24 patients, the median age was 50 years (range, 36-73). Metastases by location were: 11 brainstem, 9 thalamus, and 5 basal ganglia. The median metastasis size was 15 mm (range, 2-33) and the median SRS dose prescription was 15 Gy (range, 12-24). The median local progression-free survival was 13.7 months and median overall survival was 16.4 months. Compared with a cohort of 188 patients with noneloquent brain metastases receiving a median dose of 24 Gy, overall survival of 10.8 months was not significantly different (p=0.16). The only symptomatic complication was grade 2 headache in 8.3%. Asymptomatic adverse radiologic events were radionecrosis in two (8.3%), peritumoural edema in four (16.7%), and hemorrhage in one patient (4.2%). Conclusions: Lower SRS marginal doses do not appear to compromise survival in patients with eloquently located brain metastases compared with higher doses for other brain metastases, with minimal symptomatic complications.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii5-ii5
Author(s):  
James Jurica ◽  
Shraddha Dalwadi ◽  
David Baskin ◽  
Eric Bernicker ◽  
Brian Butler ◽  
...  

Abstract PURPOSE Treatment with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) is increasingly common for brain metastases (BM) from lung adenocarcinoma. Rates of radiation necrosis (RN) with SRS in the setting of ICIs is an ongoing area of research. We investigated rates of RN in patients with BM from lung adenocarcinoma treated with SRS with or without concurrent ICIs. METHODS We identified 39 patients at a single institution who underwent SRS treatment for BM from lung adenocarcinoma. Of these, 19 (49%) received SRS without ICIs and 20 (51%) patients received ICIs within a month of SRS. The rate of RN, defined by MRI features and histology when available, was compared between each group using multivariate analysis. Kaplan Meier survival estimates were calculated based on overall survival and compared to median survival predicted by the graded prognostic assessment. RESULTS Overall survival for all patients from diagnosis of brain metastases was 16.6 months (range 3.6–45.9) and median survival predicted by the graded prognostic assessment was 13.7 months (range 6.9–26.5). In total 11 (28%) patients developed MRI and/or histologic evidence for RN during the follow-up period; 5 of 20 (25%) from the SRS with ICI group and 6 of 19 (31%) from the SRS without ICI group. In multivariate analysis, ICI treatment had no significant impact on rates of RN between groups (OR 0.72 [95% CI: 0.17–2.93]; p=0.65) while bevacizumab treatment was associated with a decreased RN risk (OR 0.88 [95% CI: 0.43–0.99]; p=0.02). CONCLUSION Retrospective analysis of patients with BM from lung adenocarcinoma treated with SRS suggested that administration of ICIs does not increase risk for development of RN. Further, concomitant treatment with bevacizumab may decrease risk of RN. These findings suggest that patients with BM from lung adenocarcinoma can be treated with combination therapy without increased risk of neurologic toxicity.


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