A randomised phase III study of palliative radiation with concomitant carboplatin for brain metastases from non-small cell carcinoma of the lung.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To determine if the addition of carboplatin chemotherapy to whole brain irradiation improves response and survival in patients with brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Forty-two patients with brain metastases from NSCLC and performance status ECOG 0-2 were randomised to receive either whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) alone (20Gy in five fractions) or the same radiotherapy plus concomitant carboplatin (70 mg/m(2) intravenously for 5 days).

RESULTS:

The median survival was 4.4 months in the radiotherapy alone (RT) arm and 3.7 months in the combined treatment (RTC) arm (P = 0.64). The objective response rates of 10% on the RT arm and 29% on the RTC arm were not significantly different (P = 0.24). The trial was closed early because of poor accrual.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although no firm conclusions can be made regarding the efficacy of the combined treatment, this prospective study highlights the poor objective response rates and relatively poor symptom control despite standard treatment of brain metastases from NSCLC.

• Authors: Mario Guerrieri, Kevin Wong, Gail Ryan, Michael Millward, George Quong, David L Ball
• Journal: Lung cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands) (Lung Cancer) Vol. 46 Issue 1 Pg. 107-11 (Oct 2004) ISSN: 0169-5002 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 15364138 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Clinical Trial, Phase III, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Carboplatin

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antineoplastic Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Brain Neoplasms (drug therapy, radiotherapy, secondary)
• Carboplatin (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (secondary)
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Cranial Irradiation
• Female
• Humans
• Lung Neoplasms (pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Palliative Care
• Survival Analysis