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A brand new examine led by investigators from Mass Common Brigham trialed stereotactic (focused) brain-directed radiation in 100 sufferers with small cell lung most cancers and mind metastases, discovering they skilled optimistic outcomes that help use of focused radiation sooner or later for such sufferers. Outcomes are printed within the Journal of Medical Oncology.
“Despite being the historical standard, whole brain radiation might not be necessary for all patients,” mentioned first creator Ayal Aizer, MD, MHS, director of Central Nervous System Radiation Oncology at Brigham and Ladies’s Hospital, a founding member of the Mass Common Brigham healthcare system. “Our findings demonstrate that targeted, brain-directed radiation may be a viable treatment for patients with limited brain metastases from small cell lung cancer and potentially spare them from the side effects of whole brain radiation.”
At the moment, two main remedy choices exist for sufferers being handled with mind metastases: complete mind radiation, which sends beams of radiation all through all the mind to kill tumor cells, and stereotactic radiation, which goals beams of radiation solely at tumors. The focused nature of stereotactic radiation creates fewer long-term unintended effects, however for sufferers with mind metastases from small cell lung most cancers, it hasn’t been examined in devoted trials, till now.
Between 2018 and 2023, 100 sufferers with small cell lung most cancers and 1-10 mind metastases had been enrolled on this single arm, multi-center, part 2 trial of stereotactic remedy. Evaluating remedy with stereotactic radiation towards complete mind radiation, the researchers discovered neurological dying fee one-year post-treatment was 11% of their trial inhabitants versus the historic 17.5% fee in sufferers managed with complete mind radiation. Furthermore, after preliminary remedy, most sufferers didn’t require subsequent complete mind radiation—seemingly because of the intensive mind monitoring constructed into the examine protocol.
“These results support a shift toward more personalized, targeted treatment approaches that can help maintain quality of life while effectively managing brain metastases,” Aizer mentioned. “By avoiding whole brain radiation in select patients, we may be able to improve quality of life and reduce cognitive side effects without compromising outcomes.”
Mass Common Brigham authors embody Shyam Tanguturi, Diana Shi, Ivy Ricca, Marciana Johnson, Grant Benham, David Kozono, Raymond Mak, Fallon Chipidza, Monica Krishnan, Itai Pashtan, Luke Peng, Jack Qian, Ron Shiloh, Daniel Cagney, Jacob Sands, Patrick Wen, Daphne Haas-Kogan, and Rifaquat Rahman. Extra authors embody Paul Catalano, Kee-Younger Shin, Lauren Hertan, Paul Brown.
Extra data:
Ayal A. Aizer et al, Stereotactic Radiosurgery in Sufferers With Small Cell Lung Most cancers and 1-10 Mind Metastases: A Multi-Institutional, Part II, Potential Medical Trial, Journal of Medical Oncology (2025). DOI: 10.1200/JCO-25-00056
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Focused radiation gives promise in sufferers with metastasized small cell lung most cancers to the mind (2025, July 12)
retrieved 12 July 2025
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