Prophylactic Radiation Therapy After Treatment for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Significantly Reduces Risk of Early Brain Metastases

A course of radiation therapy after treatment for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer reduces the risk of metastases for at least a year, according to a national Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) study led by a Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center physician at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. The authors presented the study at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Orlando on June 1.

"With improved treatments for non-small lung cancer, patients are living longer and we are seeing more brain metastases," said Elizabeth Gore, M.D., a lead author of the study. "This study compared the efficacy of prophylactic cranial irradiation versus observation in these patients."

The researchers studied 356 patients, and found that those who were not treated with radiation were 2.5 times more likely to develop brain metastasis, according to a press release by the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Although the results didn't show a significant decrease in survival due to the radiation therapy, the researchers emphasized the reduced incidence of brain metastases during the first year following treatment for lung cancer. However, further study is needed to determine the effect of prophylactic radiation therapy on neural psychological function and quality of life, Dr. Gore said.