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Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2019 Feb 11;179:14-18. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States. Electronic address:

Objectives: The association of symptomatic radiation necrosis (RN) with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in brain metastases patients has been incompletely explored. We aim to discuss the incidence, risk factors, and prognosis of symptomatic RN in patients treated with these modalities.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the incidence of symptomatic RN among all patients with brain metastases treated with both SRS and an ICI at a single academic center. Read More

SAGE Open Med Case Rep 2019 4;7:2050313X19828539. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumour is a rare mesenchymal tumour with distinct immunohistochemical profile. While it is known to occur in various anatomical sites, the central nervous system had always been a protected site for primary or secondary perivascular epithelioid cell tumours. We describe a 61-year-old lady who presented with symptoms of raised intracranial pressure, 3 months after the resection of duodenal and thoracic tumours which were histologically consistent with perivascular epithelioid cell tumour. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2019 Feb 16;11(2). Epub 2019 Feb 16.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA.

Diagnosis-specific survival scores including a new score developed in 157 patients with brain metastases from small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) receiving whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) with 30 Gy in 10 fractions (WBRT-30-SCLC) were compared. Three prognostic groups were designed based on the 6-month survival probabilities of significant or almost significant factors, (age, performance score, number of brain metastases, extra-cerebral metastasis). Six-month survival rates were 6% (6⁻11 points), 44% (12⁻14 points) and 86% (16⁻19 points). Read More

J Thorac Oncol 2019 Feb 16. Epub 2019 Feb 16.

Department of medical oncology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Institut d'Oncologie Thoracique (IOT), Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, F-94805, Villejuif, France; Paris-Sud University, Orsay, France.

Introduction: although frequent in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), brain metastases (BM) patients are often excluded from immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) trials. We evaluated BM outcome in a less selected NSCLC cohort.

Methods: data from consecutive advanced ICI treated NSCLC patients were collected. Read More

Cancer Sci 2019 Feb 18. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Third Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Medicine & Medical Oncology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.

We conducted a large-scale surveillance study as a post-marketing commitment to investigate safety and effectiveness of alectinib in patients with ALK-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Japan. Patients receiving 300mg twice-daily alectinib (September 2014 to June 2015) were monitored until termination of alectinib or completion of 18 months of treatment at 519 Japanese study sites. The primary endpoint was the incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), which are important identified risks for alectinib in Japanese patients. Read More

Asian J Urol 2019 Jan 28;6(1):65-81. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Uro-Oncology Research, Department of Medicine and Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

This article describes cell signaling network of metastatic prostate cancer (PCa) to bone and visceral organs in the context of tumor microenvironment and for the development of novel therapeutics. The article focuses on our recent progress in the understanding of: 1) The plasticity and dynamics of tumor-stroma interaction; 2) The significance of epigenetic reprogramming in conferring cancer growth, invasion and metastasis; 3) New insights on altered junctional communication affecting PCa bone and brain metastases; 4) Novel strategies to overcome therapeutic resistance to hormonal antagonists and chemotherapy; 5) Genetic-based therapy to co-target tumor and bone stroma; 6) PCa-bone-immune cell interaction and TBX2-WNTprotein signaling in bone metastasis; 7) The roles of monoamine oxidase and reactive oxygen species in PCa growth and bone metastasis; and 8) Characterization of imprinting cluster of microRNA, in tumor-stroma interaction. This article provides new approaches and insights of PCa metastases with emphasis on basic science and potential for clinical translation. Read More

J Radiosurg SBRT 2019 ;6(1):35-43

Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA, USA.

Introduction: In the present study, we reviewed the efficacy of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) alone or in combination with WBRT, for the treatment of patients with BM secondary to SCLC. We further identified patient and treatment specific factors that correlated with improved survival.

Methods: Forty-one patients treated with GKRS for BM secondary to SCLC from 2004 to 2017 at the University of Virginia were identified with histopathologically proven SCLC and included in the study. Read More

J Radiosurg SBRT 2019 ;6(1):27-34

Department of Radiation Oncology, 251 E. Huron St. Galter Pavilion, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.

Purpose: We aimed to determine the efficacy of gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) to control brain metastases (BM) from GI primaries and report on the patient outcomes.

Materials/methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients who had undergone SRS at our institution for the treatment BM from GI primaries from 2000 to 2016. Actuarial rates for overall survival (OS) and local control (LC) were calculated. Read More

J Thorac Dis 2019 Jan;11(Suppl 1):S65-S70

Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Pasteur Hospital, CHU Nice, FHU OncoAge, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France.

Patients with advanced or metastatic forms of lung cancer with an activating mutation in () are given tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeted therapies that are more efficient than chemotherapy. These patients are excluded from first-line immunotherapy. After a phase of regression these tumors develop systematically resistance requiring a rapid change in therapy. Read More

J Neurosurg 2019 Feb 15:1-6. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

1Department of Neurosurgery, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut.

OBJECTIVEConcurrent use of anti-PD-1 therapies with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) have been shown to be beneficial for survival and local lesional control in melanoma patients with brain metastases. It is not known, however, if immunotherapy (IT) confers the same outcome advantage in lung cancer patients with brain metastases treated with SRS.METHODSThe authors retrospectively reviewed 85 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with brain metastases who were treated with SRS between January 2006 and December 2016. Read More

J Neurooncol 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, New York, NY, 10065, USA.

Purpose: The presence of brain metastases (BM) in patients with non-seminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT) is associated with poor prognosis. While radiation therapy (RT) is an important treatment for patients with NSGCT BM, there is a paucity of data on the optimal regimen. We sought to investigate the impact of RT on clinical outcomes in patients with NSGCT BM. Read More

Curr Treat Options Oncol 2019 Feb 15;20(3):19. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Medicine, Burkhardt Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Ave, S73, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.

Opinion Statement: In the past, the standard of care for treatment of BM was whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and surgery. There has been a greater role for medical therapies in the last two decades due to the discovery of driver mutations and corresponding targeted therapies. These innovations have dramatically altered the approach to treating these patients. Read More

Radiat Oncol 2019 Feb 15;14(1):33. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Miami Cancer Institute, Miami, FL, USA.

Background: Different management options exist for patients with brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), patients whose treatment with whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) has become more controversial over the last decade. It is not trivial to find the optimal balance of over- versus undertreatment in these patients. Several recent trials, including the randomized QUARTZ trial now influence the decision to recommend or withhold WBRT for patients with unfavorable prognosis, and similarly, for favorable prognosis patients, the balance between radiosurgery alone or WBRT has become a nuanced decision. Read More

Clin Breast Cancer 2019 Jan 23. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

MKA Breast Cancer Clinic, Tepe Prime, Ankara, Turkey.

Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Melanoma Institute Australia and The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

Background: Brain radiotherapy is used in the management of melanoma brain metastases (MBM), and can result in radionecrosis. Anti-PD-1 is active in the brain and may increase the risk of radionecrosis when combined with radiotherapy. We studied the incidence, associated factors and management of radionecrosis in longer-term survivors with MBM treated with this combination. Read More

Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 2019 Feb 14:1-7. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Radiation Oncology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia,

Background: Significant heterogeneity exists in target volumes for postoperative stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for brain metastases. A set of contouring guidelines was recently published, and we investigated the impact of deviations.

Methods: Patients (n = 41) undergoing single-fraction Gamma Knife SRS following surgical resection of brain metastases from 2011 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Read More

Pathol Oncol Res 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Oncology Radiotherapy, First Affliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, People's Republic of China.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation have different clinicopathological characteristics compared with EGFR wild type NSCLC. A growing number of studies focused on the relevance between EGFR mutation status and brain metastases (BM) in NSCLC, but it remains controversial. Therefore, this study performed a comprehensive meta-analysis to untangle this issue. Read More

BMC Cancer 2019 Feb 13;19(1):145. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Surgical Oncology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning Province, China.

Background: The brain is a common site for metastasis in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between the mutational of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and overall survival (OS) in NSCLC patients with brain metastases.

Methods: Searches were performed in PubMed, EmBase, and the Cochrane Library to identify studies evaluating the association of EGFR mutation with OS in NSCLC patients through September 2017. Read More

Curr Treat Options Neurol 2019 Feb 13;21(2). Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.

Purpose Of Review: To give an overview on the current evidence for stereotactic radiosurgery of brain metastases with a special focus on multiple brain metastases.

Recent Findings: While the use of stereotactic radiosurgery in patients with limited brain metastases has been clearly defined, its role in patients with multiple lesions (> 4) is still a matter of controversy. Whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) has been the standard treatment approach for patients with multiple brain lesions and is still the most commonly used treatment approach worldwide. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Neurosurgery, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000, Odense, Denmark.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the incidence of residual tumour after resection of brain metastases using early postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the influence of residual tumour on overall patient survival.

Methods: Data from 72 consecutive adult patients undergoing surgery for cerebral metastases over an 18-month study period were retrospectively collected. Early postoperative MRI was used to determine the presence of postoperative residual tumour. Read More

Mymensingh Med J 2019 Jan;28(1):254-258

Dr Sabrina Yesmin, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Medicine, Dr Sirajul Islam Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh; E-mail:

Breast cancer in male is rare which accounts about 1% of all malignant breast neoplasm cases. Since paraneoplastic syndrome is unusual with male breast cancer, very few reported cases are found. A72- year-old gentleman presented with proximal myopathy in all four limbs was referred to Dr. Read More

BMJ Open 2019 Feb 11;9(2):e023591. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Department of Radiotherapy, Grenoble Alpes University Hospital, Grenoble, France.

Introduction: Occurrence of multiple brain metastases is a critical evolution of many cancers with significant neurological and overall survival consequences, despite new targeted therapy and standard whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT). A gadolinium-based nanoparticle, AGuIX, has recently demonstrated its effectiveness as theranostic and radiosensitiser agent in preclinical studies. The favourable toxicity profile in animals and its administration as a simple intravenous injection has motivated its use in patients with this first in human study. Read More

Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2019 Feb 12:1-15. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

a Department of Radiotherapy , Institut Curie , Paris , France.

Introduction: Thirty per cent of cancer patients develop brain metastases, with multiple combination or sequential treatment modalities available, to treat systemic or central nervous system (CNS) disease. Most patients experience toxicities as a result of these treatments, of which cognitive impairment is one of the adverse events most commonly reported, causing major impairment of the patient's quality of life. Areas covered: This article reviews the role of cancer treatments in cognitive decline of patients with brain metastases: surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapies and hormone therapy. Read More

Clin Breast Cancer 2019 Jan 7. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Epidemiology Unit, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, México City, México.

Introduction: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women, and the incidence of brain metastasis (BM) from BC ranges from 20% to 30%, with a median survival of 10 to 15 months. Previous reports have shown that the presence of obesity or diabetes negatively impacts survival. The present study investigates the association between obesity or diabetes mellitus (DM) and overall survival of patients with BC with BM. Read More

Eur J Cancer 2019 Feb 7;110:11-20. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Skin Cancer Center at the University Cancer Centre, Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address:

Background: Combining stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and active systemic therapies (STs) achieved favourable survival outcomes in patients with melanoma brain metastases (MBMs) in retrospective analyses. However, several aspects of this treatment strategy remain poorly understood. We report on the overall survival (OS) of patients with MBM treated with a combination of radiotherapy (RT) and ST as well as the impact of the v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAF)-V600 mutation (BRAFmut) status, types of RT and ST and their sequence. Read More

Med Sci Monit 2019 Feb 10;25:1105-1112. Epub 2019 Feb 10.

Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Moscow, Russian Federation.

BACKGROUND The objective of the present research was to explore the prevalence, risk, and prognostic factors associated with bone metastases (BM) in newly diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS From 36 507 HCC patients who were registered in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, we enrolled 1263 with BM at the initial diagnosis of HCC from 2010 to 2014. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests were used to estimate overall survival for different subgroups. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Department of Neurosurgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY; Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY. Electronic address:

Brain metastases occur in a large portion of patients with cancer. While advances in radiation therapy help improve survival, they also raise questions of what is the best modality for retreatment in the context of recurrent disease. The spectrum of treatment options for recurrent intracranial metastatic disease after prior radiotherapy includes salvage SRS, WBRT, and brachytherapy. Read More

Med Dosim 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Ion Beam Therapy Center, SAGA HIMAT Foundation, 1-802-3, Hondori-machi, Tosu, Saga 841-0033, Japan.

The purpose of this study was to verify the accuracy of dose calculation algorithms of a treatment planning system for a single-isocenter volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plan in multiple brain metastases, by comparing the dose distributions of treatment planning system with those of Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. We used a multitarget phantom containing 9 acrylic balls with a diameter of 15.9 mm inside a Lucy phantom measuring 17 × 17 × 17 cm. Read More

J Neurosurg 2019 Feb 8:1-9. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Departments of1Radiation Oncology and.

OBJECTIVEWith increasing survival for patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer in the trastuzumab era, there is an increased risk of brain metastasis. Therefore, there is interest in optimizing intracranial disease control. Lapatinib is a small-molecule dual HER2/epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor that has demonstrated intracranial activity against HER2+ breast cancer brain metastases. Read More

Cancer Discov 2019 Feb;9(2):302

Contrast Media Mol Imaging 2019 8;2019:6501231. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.

Purpose: The combined use of anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cellular MRI, and bioluminescence imaging (BLI) allows for sensitive and improved monitoring of brain metastasis in preclinical cancer models. By using these complementary technologies, we can acquire measurements of viable single cell arrest in the brain after systemic administration, the clearance and/or retention of these cells thereafter, the growth into overt tumours, and quantification of tumour volume and relative cancer cell viability over time. While BLI is very useful in measuring cell viability, some considerations have been reported using cells engineered with luciferase such as increased tumour volume variation, changes in pattern of metastatic disease, and inhibition of tumour growth. Read More

Clin Cancer Res 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine.

Purpose: The prognosis of metastatic osteosarcoma continues to be poor. We hypothesized that alpha-emitting, bone-targeting radium 223 dichloride (RaCl) can be safely administered to patients with osteosarcoma and that early signals of response or resistance can be assessed by quantitative and qualitative correlative imaging studies and biomarkers.

Experimental Design: A 3+3 phase I, dose-escalation trial of RaCl (50, 75, and 100 kBq/kg) was designed in recurrent/metastatic osteosarcoma patients aged ≥15 years. Read More

Acta Oncol 2019 Feb 7:1-6. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

a Division of Radiation Oncology , Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute , Pittsburgh , PA , USA.

Objectives: Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the lung is a rare pulmonary tumor, having similar natural history and management strategy as small cell lung cancer. Therefore, the management of brain metastases in these patients has mirrored that of SCLC through the use of whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT). We used the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to look at predictors of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and any potential differences in outcomes for patients with brain metastases from LCNEC. Read More

Neuro Oncol 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.

Background: Patients with breast cancer positive for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) remain at high risk of intracranial relapse following treatment and experience increased rates of intracranial failure after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). We hypothesized that the addition of concurrent lapatinib to SRS would improve intracranial complete response rates.

Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed HER2-amplified breast cancer brain metastases from 2005-2014 who underwent SRS were included and divided into 2 cohorts based on timing of treatment with lapatinib. Read More

Insights Imaging 2019 Feb 6;10(1):11. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Department of Neuroradiology, St Bartholomew's and the Royal London Hospitals, Whitechapel, London, E1 1BB, UK.

Meningiomas are the most common dural tumour. They are regularly being seen as an incidental finding on brain imaging and treated conservatively. However, there are many other dural masses which mimic their appearances, including primary neoplastic processes, metastases, granulomatous diseases and infection. Read More

Front Oncol 2019 22;9. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.

To evaluate the dosimetric performance and planning/delivery efficiency of a dual-layer MLC system for treating multiple brain metastases with a single isocenter. 10 patients each with 6-10 targets with volumes from 0.11 to 8. Read More

Case Rep Oncol Med 2019 6;2019:6725127. Epub 2019 Jan 6.

Department of Neurosurgery, Kariya Toyota General Hospital, 5-15 Sumiyoshi-cho, Kariya, Aichi, 448-8505, Japan.

Malignant glioma, the most common malignant primary brain tumor in adults, usually occurs in supratentorial space as a single mass lesion, and cerebellar location and multiple appearance are uncommon. We report a case of a 69-year-old female with three lesions simultaneously found in the cerebellum on magnetic resonance images (MRIs) after suffering from gait disturbance. Two lesions were around 15 mm in size and the other one was observed as a spotty enhancement. Read More

Eur J Surg Oncol 2019 Jan 19. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tenon University Hospital, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Sorbonne University, Paris, France; INSERM UMR S 938, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.

Patterns of distant metastatic failure of endometrial cancer (EC) by specific anatomic site are not well described in the literature. In this manuscript, we evaluated the metastatic patterns of EC cancer and analysed the potential distribution of metastatic disease in this malignancy.

Methods: A total of 1444 women with EC were identified. Read More

J BUON 2018 Dec;23(7):156

Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara, Turkey.

Z Orthop Unfall 2019 Feb 5. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Ethikkomitee, Klinikum Landshut gGmbH.

In a comatose patient with acute subdural haematoma, the polytrauma spiral indicated pulmonary metastasising renal carcinoma, which limited therapeutic possibilities. Whole-body positron-emission tomography/computer tomography (PET/CT) was performed with fluorodesoxyglucose. Renal carcinoma with pulmonary, nodal and parotidal metastases was proved. Read More

Eur J Cancer 2019 Feb 2;109:137-153. Epub 2019 Feb 2.

Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, West German Cancer Center, University Duisburg-Essen and the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. Electronic address:

Introduction: Treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma is hampered by drug-resistance and often requires combination with radiotherapy as last-resort option. However, also after radiotherapy, clinical relapses are common.

Methods & Results: Our preclinical models indicated a higher rate of tumour relapse when melanoma cells were first treated with BRAF inhibition (BRAFi) followed by radiotherapy as compared to the reverse sequence. Read More

Acta Neurol Belg 2019 Feb 5. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Department of Radiology, University Hospital Antwerp (UZA), Edegem, Belgium.

J Cancer 2019 1;10(3):556-567. Epub 2019 Jan 1.

Department of Urology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, P.R. China.

This study compared the clinicopathological features and survival of metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa) after stratification by age and non-bone-related metastasis to identify prognostic factors. Patients with mPCa between 2010 and 2015 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database and analyzed. The overall survival (OS) rate was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier curve and log-rank test as well as multivariate Cox regression analysis. Read More

PLoS One 2019 4;14(2):e0211644. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Oscar-Langendorff-Institute of Physiology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany.

Epileptic seizures are frequent in patients with glioblastoma, and anticonvulsive treatment is often necessary. While clinical guidelines recommend all approved anticonvulsants, so far it is still unclear which of the available drugs is the best therapeutic option for treating glioma-associated seizures, also in view of possible anti-tumorigenic effects. In our study, we employed four patient-derived low-passage cell lines of glioblastoma and three cell lines of brain metastases, and challenged these cultures with four anticonvulsants with different mechanisms of action: levetiracetam, valproic acid, carbamazepine and perampanel. Read More

J Neurooncol 2019 Feb 4. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Purpose: Brain metastases can be radiographically cystic or solid. Cystic metastases are associated with a greater intracranial disease burden and poorer oncologic outcomes, but the impact of cystic versus solid appearance on local control after radiation remains unknown. We investigated whether cystic versus solid nature is predictive of local control after management with stereotactic or whole brain radiation (WBRT) and whether the radiation modality utilized is an effect modifier. Read More

Neuro Oncol 2019 Jan 23. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Department of Radiology Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

Background: Whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) in patients with brain metastases (BM) is associated with neurocognitive decline. Given its crucial role in learning and memory, efforts to mitigate this toxicity have mostly focused on sparing radiation to the hippocampus. We hypothesized BMs are not evenly distributed across the brain and that several additional areas may be avoided in WBRT based on a low risk of developing a BM. Read More

Neuro Oncol 2019 Jan 23. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Department of Neurology & Brain Tumor Center, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Background: A scorecard to evaluate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings during the course of leptomeningeal metastases (LM) has been proposed by the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) group.

Methods: To explore the feasibility of the LANO scorecard, cerebrospinal MRI of 22 patients with LM from solid tumors were scored by 10 neuro-oncologists and 9 neuroradiologists at baseline and at follow-up after treatment. Raters were blinded for clinical data including treatment. Read More

Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2019 Feb 3. Epub 2019 Feb 3.

Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida.

In February 2018, the Melanoma Research Foundation and the Moffitt Cancer Center hosted the Second Summit on Melanoma Central Nervous System (CNS) Metastases in Tampa, Florida. In this white paper, we outline the current status of basic science, translational, and clinical research into melanoma brain metastasis development and therapeutic management. We further outline the important challenges that remain for the field and the critical barriers that need to be overcome for continued progress to be made in this clinically difficult area. Read More

J Cell Mol Med 2019 Feb 2. Epub 2019 Feb 2.

Institute of Life Sciences, Vasile Goldiş Western University of Arad, Arad, Romania.

Breast cancer and melanoma are among the most frequent cancer types leading to brain metastases. Despite the unquestionable clinical significance, important aspects of the development of secondary tumours of the central nervous system are largely uncharacterized, including extravasation of metastatic cells through the blood-brain barrier. By using transmission electron microscopy, here we followed interactions of cancer cells and brain endothelial cells during the adhesion, intercalation/incorporation and transendothelial migration steps. Read More

Anticancer Res 2019 Feb;39(2):923-931

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kumamoto University Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan.

Background/aim: The optimal treatment strategy for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with brain metastasis (BM) has not yet been fully determined. The aim of this study was to investigate the optimal management of EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients with BM.

Patients And Methods: A multicenter retrospective study was performed on the clinical outcomes of 81 advanced/recurrent EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients with BM treated with EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) (gefitinib n=52 or erlotinib n=29). Read More