Effect of cumulative dexamethasone dose on the outcome of patients with radiosurgically treated brain metastases in the era of modern oncological therapy.
Anna Cho, Brigitte Gatterbauer, Yiru Chen, Thore Jankowski, Lukas Haider, Sonja Tögl, Irene Kapfhammer, Martin Schreder, Klaus Kirchbacher, Sabine Zöchbauer-Müller, Karl Rössler, Christian Dorfer, Philippe Dodier, Maximilian J Hochmair, Josa M Frischer
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: Recent treatment guidelines state that in patients with asymptomatic brain metastases (BMs), local treatment can be delayed until there is evidence of intracranial progression. However, while patients with symptomatic BMs typically require dexamethasone treatment, recent data on the impact of this medication on the outcomes of patients with BMs are lacking. Therefore, the authors conducted a prospective study to evaluate concomitant dexamethasone treatment in a population of radiosurgically treated patients with BMs from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Methods: This prospective observational study included 129 radiosurgically treated patients with NSCLC BMs, a Karnofsky Performance Status ≥ 70, and no previous radiosurgical treatment. Patients were enrolled in the study between December 2019 and May 2023. For patient allocation, data on concomitant immunotherapy (IT) or targeted therapy (TT) and dexamethasone treatment were analyzed 30 days before and after the first Gamma Knife radiosurgery treatment (GKRS1). A cumulative dose threshold of 100 mg of dexamethasone was evaluated.
Results: The estimated median survival time after GKRS1 was significantly longer in female patients than in male patients and in patients with concomitant IT or TT versus those without. Of note, patients with a cumulative concomitant dexamethasone dose ≥ 100 mg at GKRS1 had a significantly shorter median survival after GKRS1 than the patients with a dose < 100 mg. Moreover, a univariable followed by multivariable Cox regression model revealed that a cumulative dexamethasone dose ≥ 100 mg at GKRS1 and male sex were independent prognostic factors for an increased risk of death.
Conclusions: A cumulative dexamethasone dose ≥ 100 mg within 30 days before and after radiosurgery was identified as an independent risk factor for death. Consequently, even in the modern oncological era, the recommendation to delay local BM treatment should be critically reviewed, as the main reason for dexamethasone treatment is the presence of neurological symptoms caused by larger BMs and perifocal edema. Thus, the study data support early local BM treatment to avoid dexamethasone treatment for neurological symptoms caused by progressive BMs.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Neurosurgery, Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics, and Neurosurgical Focus are devoted to the publication of original works relating primarily to neurosurgery, including studies in clinical neurophysiology, organic neurology, ophthalmology, radiology, pathology, and molecular biology. The Editors and Editorial Boards encourage submission of clinical and laboratory studies. Other manuscripts accepted for review include technical notes on instruments or equipment that are innovative or useful to clinicians and researchers in the field of neuroscience; papers describing unusual cases; manuscripts on historical persons or events related to neurosurgery; and in Neurosurgical Focus, occasional reviews. Letters to the Editor commenting on articles recently published in the Journal of Neurosurgery, Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, and Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics are welcome.