Long Term Survival of a Patient with Brain Metastases from Lung Cancer: A Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: Brain metastasis (BM) commonly occurs in patients with advanced lung cancer and is associated with poor prognosis and short survival periods. In some cases, select patients survive several years which is rare. Presentation of case: This case report highlights the long-term survival of a 55-year-old patient who was diagnosed with brain metastases from lung cancer three years ago and is currently alive following treatment with chemotherapy for the primary cancer and whole-brain radiation therapy and chemotherapy for the brain metastases. Since the diagnosis of brain metastases three years ago, the patient’s primary cancer has remained controlled and she is living a disease-free, functional life. Discussion: Literature review identified female gender, performance status, number of metastatic sites, the presence of a solitary lesion or single lesion, brain metastases later in their illness, adenocarcinoma histology, younger age, and patients with EGFR and ALK alterations, to be all as favorable prognostic factors associated with long term survival in patients with brain metastasis secondary to lung cancer. Conclusion: Further studies should be designed to investigate the factors that may relate to long term survival in patients with brain metastasis secondary to lung cancer. This should help further understand the treatment outcomes in these patients. Keywords: Brain Metastasis; Chemotherapy; Carboplatin; Gemcitabine; Whole-brain radiation; Non-small-cell lung cancer