Resection of symptomatic non–small cell lung cancer brain metastasis in the setting of multiple brain metastases

OBJECTIVE Current guidelines primarily suggest resection of brain metastases (BMs) in patients with limited lesions. With a growing number of highly effective local and systemic treatment options, this view may be challenged. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of metastasectomy, disregarding BM count, in a comprehensive treatment setting. METHODS In this monocentric retrospective analysis, the authors included patients who underwent resection for at least 1 BM and collected demographic, clinical, and tumor-associated parameters. Prognostic factors for local control and overall survival (OS) were analyzed with the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards analysis. RESULTS The authors analyzed 216 patients. One hundred twenty-nine (59.7%) patients were diagnosed with a single/solitary BM, whereas 64 (29.6%) patients had 2–3 BMs and the remaining 23 (10.6%) had more than 3 BMs. With resection of symptomatic BMs, a significant improvement in Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) was achieved (p < 0.001), thereby enabling adjuvant radiotherapy for 199 (92.1%) patients and systemic treatment for 119 (55.1%) patients. During follow-up, 83 (38.4%) patients experienced local recurrence. BM count did not significantly influence local control rates. By the time of analysis, 120 (55.6%) patients had died; the leading cause of death was systemic tumor progression. The mean (range) OS after surgery was 12.7 (0–88) months. In univariate analysis, the BM count did not influence OS (p = 0.844), but age < 65 years (p = 0.007), preoperative and postoperative KPS ≥ 70 (p = 0.002 and p = 0.005, respectively), systemic metastases other than BM (p = 0.004), adjuvant radiation therapy (p < 0.001), and adjuvant systemic treatment (p < 0.001) were prognostic factors. In regression analysis, the presence of extracranial metastases (HR 2.30, 95% CI 1.53–3.48, p < 0.001), adjuvant radiation therapy (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.23–0.86, p = 0.016), and adjuvant systemic treatment (HR 0.37, 95% CI 0.25–0.55, p < 0.001) remained as independent factors for survival. CONCLUSIONS Surgery for symptomatic BM from non–small cell lung cancer may be indicated even for patients with multiple lesions in order to alleviate their neurological symptoms and to consequently facilitate further treatment.

On the probability of lymph node negativity in pN0-staged prostate cancer—a theoretically derived rule of thumb for adjuvant needs

Purpose The extent of lymphadenectomy and clinical features influence the risk of occult nodes in node-negative prostate cancer. We derived a simple estimation model for the negative predictive value (npv) of histopathologically node-negative prostate cancer patients (pN0) to guide adjuvant treatment. Methods Approximations of sensitivities in detecting lymph node metastasis from current publications depending on the number of removed lymph nodes were used for a theoretical deduction of a simplified formulation of npv assuming a false node positivity of 0. Results A theoretical formula of npv = p(N0IpN0) = (100 − prevalence) / (100 − sensitivity × prevalence) was calculated (sensitivity and preoperative prevalence in %). Depending on the number of removed lymph nodes (nLN), the sensitivity of pN0-staged prostate cancer was derived for three sensitivity levels accordingly: sensitivity = f(nLN) = 9 × nLN /100 for 0 ≤ nLN ≤ 8 and f(nLN) = (nLN + 70) /100 for 9 ≤ nLN ≤ 29 and f(nLN) = 1 for nLN ≥ 30. Conclusion We developed a theoretical formula for estimation of the npv in pN0-staged prostate cancer patients. It is a sine qua non to use the formula in a clinically experienced context before deciding to electively irradiate pelvic lymph nodes or to intensify adjuvant systemic treatment.

SURG-04. Surgical resection of symptomatic brain metastasis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer irrespective from lesion count

Background and Purpose Current guidelines primarily suggest the resection in case of a limited number of brain metastases (BM). With an increasing number of local and systemic treatment options this approach needs reconsideration. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the role of metastectomy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated in a comprehensive setting disregarding lesion count. Patients and Methods In this monocentric retrospective analysis, patients receiving surgery for 1–3 BM with available demographic, clinical, and tumor-associated parameters were included. Prognostic factors for local control (LC) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed by Log rank test and Cox proportional hazards. Results Two-hundred-sixteen patients were included: 129 (59.7%) with single/solitary, 64 (29.6%) with 2–3, and 23 (10.6%) with more than three BM. Resection of the symptomatic BM(s) improved the patients’ Karnofsky performance index (KPI) significantly (p&lt;0.001), enabling adjuvant radiotherapy in 199 (92.1%) and systemic treatment in 119 (55.1%) patients. After a mean radiological follow-up of eight (1–79) months, LC was observed in 83 (38.4%) patients and was not significantly influenced by BM count (p=0.064). After a mean OS after surgery of 12.7 (0–88) months, 120 (55.6%) patients had died. In univariate analysis, BM count showed no impact on OS (p=0.844), while age ≥/&lt; 65 years (p=0.007), pre- and postoperative KPI ≥70 (p=0.002 and p=0.005, respectively), extra-cranial metastases (p=0.004), adjuvant radiation therapy (p&lt;0.001), and adjuvant systemic treatment (p&lt;0.001) did. In regression analysis the presence of extra-cranial metastases (HR 2.30 95%CI 1.53–3.48; p&lt;0.001), adjuvant radiation therapy (HR 0.97 95%CI 0.23–0.86; p=0.016), and adjuvant systemic treatment (HR 0.37 95%CI 0.25–0.55; p&lt;0.001) remained independent factors for survival. Conclusions The indication for resection of symptomatic BM in patients with NSCLC is justified even in case of multiple lesions to alleviate their neurological symptoms and to enable further treatment.

Osteosarcoma

Osteogenic sarcoma is the most common primary bone cancer frequently affecting children and teenagers. Despite many years of research, little have the survival rates changed in the last fifty years. Early diagnosis, a complete systemic treatment program with a good tumor response and adequate margins continue to be the main determinants of patients’ prognosis in this disease. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery and subsequent adjuvant systemic treatment remain the standard of care. Numerous reconstruction options available provide these patients better function and improved quality of life.