Radiat Oncol J.  2019 Sep;37(3):156-165. 10.3857/roj.2019.00318.

The value of prophylactic cranial irradiation in limited-stage small cell lung cancer: should it always be recommended?

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Radiation Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. coocoori@amc.seoul.kr
  • 2Department of Radiation Oncology, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, Busan, Korea.
  • 3Department of Radiation Oncology, Yeungnam University Medical Center, Daegu, Korea.

Abstract

PURPOSE
Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) is a standard treatment for limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) showing a response to initial treatment, but many patients do not receive PCI due to comorbidities or refusal. This study aims to define the patient group for whom PCI can be omitted with minimal risk.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Patients with LS-SCLC who underwent radiotherapy with curative aim at our institution between January 2004 and December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who did not receive PCI were evaluated for brain metastasis-free survival (BMFS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and prognostic factors for survival, and treatment outcomes were compared with a patient cohort who received PCI.
RESULTS
A total of 350 patients achieved a response following thoracic radiotherapy, and 190 of these patients did not receive PCI. Stage I-II and a complete response (CR) to initial therapy were good prognostic factors for BMFS and OS on univariate analysis. Patients with both stage I-II and a CR who declined PCI showed comparable 2-year BMFS to those who received PCI (92% vs. 89%). In patients who achieved CR, PCI did not significantly improve OS or PFS.
CONCLUSION
There should be less concern about omitting PCI in patients with comorbidities if they have stage I-II or a CR, with brain metastasis control being comparable to those patients who receive PCI.

Keyword

Small cell lung carcinoma; Radiotherapy; Prophylactic cranial irradiation; PCI; Brain; Complete remission

MeSH Terms

Brain
Cohort Studies
Comorbidity
Cranial Irradiation*
Disease-Free Survival
Humans
Neoplasm Metastasis
Radiotherapy
Retrospective Studies
Small Cell Lung Carcinoma*
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