Extracranial Metastases Research Articles

Survival benefits of primary tumor surgery for synchronous brain metastases: A SEER-based population study with propensity-matched comparative analysis.

Evidence about the prognostic value of primary tumor surgery (PTS) in patients with brain metastatic malignancies is ambiguous and controversial. This study assessed the survival benefits of primary tumor surgery in patients with brain metastases (BMs). Adults patients with BMs that originated from lung, breast, kidney, skin, colon, and liver diagnosed between 2010 and 2018 were derived from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (SEER). Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance the bias between patients with or without PTS. Then the prognostic value of PTS was estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazard regression models. A total of 32,760 patients with BMs secondary to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), small cell lung cancer (SCLC), breast cancer, renal cancer, melanoma, colorectal cancer, and liver cancer were identified from the database. After PSM at 1:1 ratio, PTS appeared to significantly prolong cause-specific survival (CSS) time for patients with BMs secondary to NSCLC, breast cancer, renal cancer, and colorectal cancer (hazard ratio [HR]=0.60 [0.53-0.68], 0.56 [0.43-0.73], 0.47 [0.37-0.60], and 0.59 [0.37-0.95], respectively, all p < 0.05). Patients with earlier T and N classifications, no extracranial metastasis, and cancer-specific subtypes (adenocarcinoma in NSCLC, hormone receptor-negative breast cancer) may derive more survival benefits from PTS when suffering from BMs. This population-based study supported PTS could provide survival benefits for patients with BMs secondary to NSCLC, breast cancer, renal cancer, and colorectal cancer. More emphasis should be put on PTS of selected patients with BMs.

Extracranial metastasis of glioblastoma with genomic analysis: a case report and review of the literature

BackgroundGlioblastoma (GBM) is the first most frequent type of primary malignant brain tumors in adults. It is basically confined to the brain, and extracranial metastases (ECM) are rare. The genomic features of GBM with ECM are not fully elucidated.Case DescriptionHere, we present a case of a male patient with headache and left eye vision loss for 2 months who had a left occipital lobe tumor. GBM of grade IV [isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH-1) wild type] was diagnosed based on the histological profiles of intracranial tumor according to the World Health Organization standard. ECM of GBM located in the mediastinal lymph node occurred 6 months after resection of the intracranial tumor. High throughput gene sequencing was performed using ECM lesions. Mutated genes included tumor protein 53 (TP53), CUB and Sushi multiple domains 3 (CSMD3), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase family member 4 (PARP4), and PTEN. The patient underwent surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and anti-angiogenic drug treatment. Unfortunately, the patient died 8 months after surgery.ConclusionsECM of GBM is rare, and its prognosis is very poor. Mutated genes in ECM included TP53, CSMD3, PARP4, and PTEN in our case. Genomic analysis provides important insights into GBM and its ECM.

Combined stereotactic radiosurgery and tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy versus tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy alone for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer patients with brain metastases.

Whether combined radiation and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with brain metastases (BMs) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations confers additional benefits over TKI therapy alone remains a matter of debate. The goal of this study was to compare outcomes between combined TKI therapy with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) versus TKI therapy alone in NSCLC patients with BMs and EGFR mutations. Consecutive cases of NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations and BMs treated with TKIs were selected for inclusion in this study. Patients were categorized into two groups based on SRS: TKI therapy alone (group I) and combined SRS and TKI therapy (group II). Patients who had SRS or TKI as salvage therapy and those with prior radiation treatment for BMs were excluded. Tumor control (< 10% increase in tumor volume) and overall survival (OS) rates were compared using Kaplan-Meier analyses. Independent predictors of tumor control and OS were identified using multivariable Cox regression analyses. The study cohort comprised 280 patients (n = 90 in group I and n = 190 in group II). Cumulative tumor control rates were higher in group II than in group I (79.8% vs 31.2% at 36 months, p < 0.0001). Cumulative OS rates were comparable between groups I and II (43.8% vs 59.4% at 36 months, p = 0.3203). Independent predictors of tumor control were older age (p < 0.01, HR 1.03), fewer BMs (p < 0.01, HR 1.09), lack of extracranial metastasis (p < 0.02, HR 0.70), and combined SRS and TKI therapy (p < 0.01, HR 0.25). Independent predictors of OS were fewer BMs (p < 0.01, HR 1.04) and a higher Karnofsky Performance Status score (p < 0.01, HR 0.97). Although the OS rate did not differ between TKI therapy with and without SRS, the addition of SRS to TKI therapy resulted in improvement of intracranial tumor control. The lack of effect on survival rate with the addition of SRS may be attributable to extracranial disease progression. The addition of SRS to TKI therapy is recommended for intracranial disease control in NSCLC patients with BMs and EGFR mutations. Potential benefits may include prevention of neurological deficits and seizures. Future prospective studies may help clarify the clinical outcome benefits of SRS in these patients.

Patient-Reported and Clinical Outcomes From 5-Fraction SBRT for Oligometastases: A Prospective Single-Institution Study

To describe the long-term outcomes of a 5-fraction normal tissue tolerance adapted strategy for the management of oligometastases (OM). Patients with histologically confirmed solid tumors, ≤5 extracranial metastases, suitable for a definitive approach for all metastatic lesions, at least one lesion suitable for Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT), Eastern Coooperative Oncology Group Performance Status ≤2 were eligible. Treatment intervention was a 5-fraction (25-55 Gy) normal tissue adapted dosing strategy. The primary outcome was cumulative local progression rate at 12 months. Between March 2013 and January 2018, 137 patients started SBRT. Median follow-up was 35.7 months. In addition, 107 (78%) patients had a solitary OM. The mean planning target volume D95 was 39.6 (standard deviation, 8.8; biological effective dose using an alpha/beta ratio of 10, 70.8) Gy. Mean planning target volume D95 was highest for lung lesions (48.7 [standard deviation, 4.7]; biological effective dose using an alpha/beta ratio of 10, 96.1) Gy but was <40 Gy for all other anatomic sites. Two grade 3 toxicities (gastrointestinal bleed) were observed with stomach D0.05 30.3 Gy and 30.4 Gy. The cumulative local progression rate at 12 of 36 months was 16.1% (95% CI, 10-22) and 38.3% (95% CI 30-46.7); overall survival was 90% and 37%, and progression free survival was 58% and 19%, respectively. Mean symptom burden (Edmonton Symptom Assessment Total Score) worsened in patients with progressive disease (+8.8) at 12 months and was paralleled by changes in mean European Organization for Research and Treatment Quality of Life Core Questionnaire Summary Score and Global Health Quality of Life Score. Systemic therapy was initiated in 55% of patients at an average of 12.7 (standard deviation 12.4) months. If long-term progression free survival is the primary goal of therapy, SBRT for OM achieved this in <20% of patients attributable to a high risk of distant failure. Favorable local progression free survival is accompanied by preservation of quality of life, avoidance of symptom progression and reduced need of antineoplastic therapies at 12 months. Information on symptom burden, quality of life, as well as pattern of antineoplastic therapy use after progressive disease is useful to support conversations between patients, families, and health care providers. Strategies to improve patient selection and reduce distant progression rate remain a priority for further study.

Modern diagnostics and treatment of distant metastasis of cervical cancer

Cervical cancer comprises a major female health problem worldwide. Despite population screening programmes, broad vaccination, precision pathogenesis studies and emergent diagnostics and treatment strategies, its prevalence is rising by year. We increasingly report the spread of disease, particularly of metastatic cervical cancer. The such patients’ prognosis is far from favourable. We review the literature relevant to diagnostic and treatment options in metastatic cervical cancer. The options and survival rates described vary by the locality of metastatic lesions and routes of metastasis. Patients with haematogenous metastases have a worse prognosis than patients with lymphogenous ones. From a diagnostic point of view, 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography (FDG PET) and PET-computed tomography remain efficacious for detecting distant metastases. Adjuvant chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiotherapy are effective in lymphogenous metastases. Haematogenous lung metastases resection and/or chemotherapy are the tactics of choice to contain relapsed metastatic cervical cancer. Accordingly, chemoradiotherapy is the optimal choice in patients with stage IVB cervical cancer. Multimodal therapy has revealed better survival prognosis. Stereotactic radiosurgery or craniotomy is indicated in oligometastatic brain lesions, with treatment outcomes and survival rates improving for the techniques’ combination with whole-brain radiation therapy. However, in multiple metastasis to brain or extracranial metastasis, chemotherapy combined with palliative whole-brain radiation are left as the only option.

Abstract 5120: Deciphering melanoma CTC signatures leading to immune escape and brain metastasis: The first MRI CTC xenograft model

Abstract Melanoma brain metastasis (MBM) is a devastating disease which is diagnosed in up to 60% of melanoma patients and 80% of patients at autopsy. While microarray studies identified many genes differentially expressed between MBM and extracranial metastasis, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the established technology to evaluate clinical MBM. Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) are “seeds” of fatal metastasis and smallest functional units of cancer. Defining mechanisms which regulate the spatial and temporal competence of patient-isolated CTCs driving MBM thus presents the opportunity to suppress its occurrence. Hypothesis is that MRI has fundamental translational relevance to validate preclinical CTC models and that MBM onset depends upon the absence or presence of human immune system cells (Hu-mice), and mice gender and age. We isolated CTCs from blood of primary/metastatic melanoma patients, and confirmed CTC detection by CellSearch࣪, Parsortix࣪, high-definition microscopy and RNA-Seq profiling. Second, we injected melanoma CTCs in immunodeficient but also immunocompetent xenografts (NBSGW female/male mice generated by multiple donors CD34+ cells), and assessed tumor progression by IVIS and MRI with parallel monitoring of CTC gene-specific transcriptional activation. Third, we discovered specific differences in number of CTCs/CTC clustering patterns and CTC signatures which were dependent upon MBM status. Quantitation of melanoma CTC-derived signatures enabled serial noninvasive monitoring of tumor burden. Lastly, we found that these differences and the occurrence, severity and spatial distribution of MBM highly depended from gender, age, and immunocompetency status of injected animals. Thus, by reporting the first MRI CTC xenograft model, its use for melanoma CTC interrogation can provide a platform for early monitoring of response to immunotherapeutic and/or targeted interventions in melanoma, and contribute to rational therapy applications, notably for MBM prediction or prevention. Citation Format: Tetiana Bowley, Dario Marchetti. Deciphering melanoma CTC signatures leading to immune escape and brain metastasis: The first MRI CTC xenograft model [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 5120.

Abstract LB052: Melanoma-secreted amyloid beta suppresses neuroinflammation and promotes brain metastasis

Abstract Brain metastasis is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in multiple cancer types and represents an unmet clinical need. The mechanisms that mediate metastatic cancer growth in the brain parenchyma are largely unknown. Melanoma, which has the highest rate of brain metastasis among common cancer types, is an ideal model to study how cancer cells adapt to the brain parenchyma. Our unbiased proteomics analysis of melanoma short-term cultures revealed that proteins implicated in neurodegenerative pathologies are differentially expressed in melanoma cells explanted from brain metastases compared to those derived from extracranial metastases. We showed that melanoma cells require amyloid beta (Aβ) for growth and survival in the brain parenchyma. Melanoma-secreted Aβ activates surrounding astrocytes to a prometastatic, anti-inflammatory phenotype and prevents phagocytosis of melanoma by microglia. Finally, we demonstrate that pharmacological inhibition of Aβ decreases brain metastatic burden. Our results reveal a novel mechanistic connection between brain metastasis and Alzheimer’s disease - two previously unrelated pathologies, establish Aβ as a promising therapeutic target for brain metastasis, and demonstrate suppression of neuroinflammation as a critical feature of metastatic adaptation to the brain parenchyma. Citation Format: Kevin Kleffman, Grace Levinson, Indigo V. Rose, Lili Blumenberg, Sorin A. Shadaloey, Avantika Dhabaria, Eitan Wong, Francisco Galán-Echevarría, Alcida Karz, Diana Argibay, Richard Von-Itter, Alfredo Floristán, Gillian Baptiste, Nicole Eskow, James Tranos, Jenny Chen, Eleazar C. Vega Saenz de Miera, Melissa Call, Robert Rogers, George Jour, Youssef Zaim Wadghiri, Iman Osman, Yue Ming Li, Paul Mathews, Ronald Demattos, Beatrix Ueberheide, Kelly Ruggles, Shane A. Liddelow, Robert J. Schneider, Eva Hernando. Melanoma-secreted amyloid beta suppresses neuroinflammation and promotes brain metastasis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr LB052.

Abstract 4176: Histone deacetylase inhibitor Panobinostat enhances efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor via upregulating antigen presentation in breast cancer brain metastasis

Abstract Brain metastasis (BrM) affects millions of cancer patients and major cancer types, e.g., lung cancer, melanoma, and breast cancer, have high incidences of BrM. Symptomatic BrM patients have a less than 20% 1-year survival rate. The poor clinical outcome is due to lack of effective treatment for BrM as even immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) only showed effects in 55% asymptomatic BrM in melanoma patients. Novel effective combination therapies are urgently needed to address metastasis in the unique brain immune microenvironment (BrIME). Interestingly, our RNA-seq data of patients treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center and immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis of tumors of various mouse models showed that BrM express significantly lower major histocompatibility class I (MHC-I) and higher histone deacetylase (HDAC) 1 compares to extracranial tumors or metastasis. HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) have been reported to upregulate MHC-I in extracranial tumors. In this study, we tested whether HDACi, Panobinostat, can upregulate MHC-I expression in BrM and whether Panobinostat combined with ICI (e.g., anti-PD1) treatment in mouse models can impede BrM development. Clearly, our data showed that HDACi Panobinostat significantly increased MHC-I expression in brain-seeking human breast cancer cells (MDA-231, MDA-435) and mouse mammary tumor cells (4T1, EO771) with or without IFN-γ treatment. We then tested Panobinostat penetration of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for treating BrM in vivo. C57BL/6 mice were treated with either 10 or 20mpk (i.p.) Panobinostat for three consecutive days. Mass spectrum analysis shows that Panobinostat can be detected in the brain at level of 10-8M after the treatment. We found that Panobinostat treatment increased both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell in the brain by FACS analysis. To test therapeutic efficacy of HDACi and ICI combination therapy in BrM, we induced BrM in C57BL/6 mice by intracarotid artery (ICA) injection of E0771-Luc.GFP tumor cells, then mice were divided to four groups and were treated with i) vehicle, ii) Panobinostat, iii) anti-PD1 and iv) Panobinostat +anti-PD1. We found that combination of Panobinostat with anti-PD1 more effectively inhibited BrM tumor outgrowth compares to either monotherapy and the vehicle control. Furthermore, Immunohistochemistry staining revealed upregulated MHC-I in BrM tumor cells and increased CD8+ T cell infiltration by Panobinostat treatment. In summary, our data indicated that HDACi Panobinostat can increase ICI efficacy in BrM by upregulating MHC-I for enhanced antigen presentation. Citation Format: Shao-Ping Yang, Yimin Duan, Xiangliang Yuan, Lin Zhang, Patrick Zhang, Jason T. Huse, Dihua Yu. Histone deacetylase inhibitor Panobinostat enhances efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor via upregulating antigen presentation in breast cancer brain metastasis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 4176.

Prostate-specific membrane antigen expression in meningioma.

2072 Background: Meningioma is the most common CNS tumor, yet there is no effective therapy for relapsed/refractory meningioma after surgery and radiation therapy. Although most meningiomas follow a relatively benign course, some have a more aggressive course with rapid tumor growth, brain invasion, higher recurrence rates or extracranial metastasis. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a transmembrane peptidase upregulated on endothelial cells of malignant solid tumors including glioblastoma and metastatic brain tumors, but not in normal vasculature. PSMA has been investigated as a therapeutic target and as a molecular imaging marker to monitor response to treatment and evaluate disease activity in PSMA-avid tumors. PSMA expression however has not been studied in meningioma. Methods: Archival tumor specimens (96 tumor samples: 58 WHO grade 1, 35 WHO grade 2, 3 WHO grade 3) from 69 patients were stained for H&amp;E, PSMA and CD31 and slides were scanned (Leica Aperio AT2 whole slide image scanner). 37 of these samples were recurrent tumors and 13 had prior radiation therapy (intensity-modulated, Gamma knife, craniospinal). 21 of the 69 patients had paired samples of initial and recurrent tumors. QuPath was utilized as open access solution to machine learning generating raw data for PSMA, CD31, PSMA/CD31 ratio and PSMA/vasculature ratio. Paired t-test, unpaired t-test and ROC curves were used for statistical analysis. Results: PSMA expression was seen in all of the study samples. PSMA expression (p = 0.0147) was lower in grade 1 compared to grade 2 and 3 tumors, but not different among histologic subtypes. PSMA/vasculature ratio (p = 0.0015) was lower in grade 1 compared to grade 2 and 3 tumors. PSMA expression (p = 0.002) and PSMA/vasculature ratio (p = 0.0015) were higher in recurrent compared to non-recurrent tumors. PSMA expression (p = 0.0442) was higher in recurrent compared to initial tumors among paired samples. When comparing initial tumors of paired samples to non-recurrent tumors, ROC curves demonstrated CD31 expression (AUC:0.7278; p = 0.0008), PSMA/CD31 ratio (AUC:0.7843; p = &lt; 0.0001) and PSMA/vasculature ratio (AUC:0.6256; p = 0.0328) to be predictors of tumor recurrence. Tumors with prior radiation therapy had higher PSMA/vascular ratio (p = 0.0439) compared to those without. Conclusions: PSMA is expressed in tumor vasculature of meningioma of any grade, increases at recurrence and persists with prior radiation therapy. Since it is present in meningioma of different grades and throughout the course of the disease, it could potentially be utilized as consistent diagnostic biomarker, relevant factor for risk of recurrence stratification and novel therapeutic target for these tumors.

DSP-0390, an oral emopamil binding protein (EBP) inhibitor, in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma: A first-in-human, phase 1 study.

TPS2077 Background: The brain’s cells are fully dependent on their own de novo biosynthesis of cholesterol as the blood-brain barrier prevents its uptake from the circulation. In normal glial cells, proper regulation of cholesterol synthesis depends on its cell density and is turned off when the cell density exceeds a certain level. On the other hand, gliomas maintain high levels of cholesterol synthesis to support abnormal growth under any condition. Upregulation of cholesterol synthesis genes is associated with decreased survival in patients with glioblastoma (GBM). Therefore, gliomas are potentially sensitive to cholesterol synthesis inhibition. DSP-0390, an investigational small molecule, is an inhibitor of EBP, an enzyme in one of the last and crucial steps of cholesterol biosynthesis. By inhibiting de novo cholesterol synthesis, cytotoxicity can be induced more selectively against hyperproliferative GBM cells. DSP-0390 has shown significant antitumor activity in orthotopic xenograft models of human GBM (data on file). Methods: DSP-0390 will be evaluated in a phase 1 study in patients with recurrent, high-grade glioma (NCT05023551). Key eligibility criteria: age ≥18 years; Karnofsky Performance Status score ≥70%; and adequate renal, hepatic, and hematologic function. Patients must not have multifocal disease, leptomeningeal metastasis or extracranial metastasis, abnormal electrocardiograms, or significant cardiovascular disease. In Dose Escalation, 21–30 patients with World Health Organization (WHO) grade III or IV malignant glioma who progressed after ≥1 prior therapy will be enrolled. Dose level enrollment will be guided by a Bayesian Logistic Regression Model until identification of the maximum tolerated dose or recommended dose for expansion. Dose Expansion for clinical activity will enroll approximately 20–40 patients with WHO grade IV GBM who progressed after primary therapy and have measurable disease. Patients will receive oral DSP-0390 once daily. Study endpoints include safety (treatment-emergent adverse events [AEs], serious AEs, and dose-limiting toxicities), efficacy (6-month progression-free survival [PFS], objective response, PFS, duration of response, and 12-month overall survival), pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamic biomarkers. This study is currently recruiting in the United States and Japan. Clinical trial information: NCT05023551.

Pattern of failure in inoperable stage III non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with chemoradiotherapy with/without immune checkpoint inhibition.

e20570 Background: We compared pattern of failure in patients treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with concurrent and/or sequential Programmed Cell Death 1 (PD-1) or Ligand 1 (PD-L1) immune checkpoint inhibition (IO, immuno-oncology therapy) and CRT alone for inoperable stage III NSCLC. Methods: Prospective data of thirty nine consecutive patients who completed CRT-IO with sequential durvalumab (72%, 28 patients) or concurrent and sequential nivolumab (28%, 11 patients) and a sensitive propensity score matched (PSM adjusted for patients age, gender, T- and N-status, PTV, histology) cohort of 39 patients treated with CRT alone were analyzed. First site of failure was compared between the CRT-IO and the CRT alone subgroup. Results: All patients were treated with conventionally fractionated thoracic irradiation to a total dose of at least 60Gy (range: 60-66Gy), all patients received either sequential or simultaneous chemotherapy while 95% (74 patients; CRT-IO: 38/39; CRT alone: 36/39) received two cycles of concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy. Median follow-up for the entire cohort was 33.3 (range: 1.5-102.9) months; median overall survival (OS) was 34.9 (95%CI: 10.7-59.1) months (CRT-IO: not reached; CRT alone: 24.4, p = 0.003); median progression-free survival (PFS) was 13.6 (95% CI: 10.5-6.7) months (CRT-IO: 26.3; CRT alone: 8.3; p &lt; 0.001). At the time of evaluation 21 (53.8%) vs. 7 (17.9%) patients of the CRT-IO vs. CRT alone subgroup were progression free and alive (p = 0.003); 4 (10.3%) vs. 3 (7.7%) had brain metastases as first site of failure; 7 (17.9%) vs. 6 (15.4%) had ≤ 3 extracranial metastasis and 3 (7.7%) vs. 4 (10.3%) had multi-organ progression. Local-regional recurrence (LRR) as first site of failure was significantly less frequent in patients treated with CRT-IO vs. CRT alone, namely 3 (7.7%) vs. 12 (30.8%) patients (p = 0.001); median time to LRR was not reached vs. 15.0 (95%CI: 0.9-33.7) months. Conclusions: Pattern of failure differ significantly in patients treated with CRT-IO vs. CRT alone; CRT-IO patients are significantly less likely to develop a LRR. No differences in the prevalence of brain metastases as first site of failure could be detected.

Outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer with brain metastasis.

e14002 Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in females. Brain metastasis is a poor prognostic factor in breast cancer. Brain metastasis can develop in about half of the HER2- positive metastatic breast cancer patients. The study was aimed to determine outcomes and prognostic factors in HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer patients who had brain metastasis. Methods: We evaluated the HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients with brain metastasis between 2008 and 2018. Data of the patients were recorded retrospectively. Kaplan Meier and Cox regression analysis were used for survival analysis and prognostic factors. Results: Eighty-three patients were included in the study. The median age was 49 (range, 25-76). Thirty-two (38.6%) patients had de-novo metastatic disease at diagnosis. The most common histopathological type was invasive ductal carcinoma (88.4%). The estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor positivity ratios were 42.2% and 28.9%, respectively. At the beginning of brain metastasis, the median number of extra-cranial metastasis was 2 (range, 0-4). The most common extra-cranial metastasis sites were bone (63.9%), liver (41%), and lung (34.9%), respectively. Twenty-eight patients (41.8%) had solitary brain metastasis. The median size of brain metastasis was 16 mm (range, 5-63) at diagnosis. All patients had treated with trastuzumab-based chemotherapy, 29 patients (34.9%) TDM-1, and 73 patients (88%) lapatinib+capesitabine combination. Seventeen patients (20.5%) had undergone craniotomy, and 82 patients (98.8%) received brain radiotherapy. The patients also received hormonotherapy (41%) and bisphosphonates (56.6%). At a median follow-up of 36 months (range 5.9-177.7) from beginning metastasis, the median overall survival was 34.9 months (95% CI, range 24.6-45.2). In multivariate analysis, age at diagnosis (p = 0.005), presence of five and over brain metastasis (p = 0.016), the number of chemotherapy used with trastuzumab (p = 0.017), and receiving three different HER2-targetted therapy (p = 0.032) were statistically significant for overall survival. However, size of brain metastasis (p = 0.091), lung metastasis (p = 0.428), liver metastasis (p = 0.338), bone metastasis (p = 0.132), and hormone positivity of tumor (p = 0.238) were not. Conclusions: Real-life outcomes of HER2-positive breast cancer patients with brain metastases were presented in this study. We showed that age at diagnosis, number of brain metastasis, number of chemotherapy received with trastuzumab, and had received three different HER2 targetted therapy was prognostic factors for overall survival.

Association of baseline corticosteroid treatment with outcomes for patients (pts) with BRAF-mutant melanoma brain metastases (MBMs) in COMBI-MB treated with dabrafenib and trametinib (DT).

e21546 Background: The COMBI-MB trial showed that DT was safe for BRAF-mutant melanoma pts with MBMs. However, slightly lower intracranial response rates (ICRR) and markedly shorter intracranial progression-free survival (PFS) were observed than in previous trials in pts with extracranial metastases (EM) only. In order to understand the basis of this difference in outcomes, and to inform patient management, we performed post hoc analyses of baseline clinical features to identify associations with ICRR, PFS, and overall survival (OS). Methods: Analyses were performed on all patients (n = 125) enrolled in the COMBI-MB trial. Baseline features included age, gender, ECOG performance status (PS), BRAF genotype (V600E vs V600 other), number of MBM, sum of longest diameters (SLD) of MBMs, maximum MBM size, presence of EM, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), baseline corticosteroid treatment, prior treatments (systemic, radiotherapy to brain, surgery to brain), and presence of uncontrolled MBM symptoms. Univariate (UV) and multivariate (MV, all variables entered) analysis utilized Cox proportional hazards modeling. Associations with ICRR were identified using logistic regression modelling. P values of &gt; 0.05 were considered significant. Results: Corticosteroids treatment at baseline was the only factor associated with ICRR on either UV (p = 0.021) or MV (p = 0.048) analysis. Pts on corticosteroids (n = 13) had an ICRR of 39% versus 63% for patients not on steroids (n = 63) (OR 0.323, 95% CI 0.105-0.996 on MV). Pts receiving corticosteroids also had shorter PFS [median 4.3 versus 6.2 months (mos), HR 1.931, CI 1.061-3.513, P = 0.031 on MV]. BRAF V600E genotype (n = 104, median 5.9 months) was associated with improved PFS versus BRAF V600 other (n = 21, median 4.2 months, HR 0.565, CI 0.321-0.996, P =0.0483 in MV). On UV analysis, OS was associated with elevated LDH (median 10.6 versus 12.7 months, HR 1.595, CI 1.045- 2.434, P = 0.0305), baseline treatment with corticosteroids (median 9.3 versus 13.5 months, HR 1.642, CI 1.037- 2.598, P = 0.0343), and ECOG PS status of 0 (median 18.9 versus 8.2 months, HR 0.435, CI 0.285-0.664). Only ECOG status remained significant on MV of OS (HR 0.441, CI 0.249-0.779, P = 0.0048). Conclusions: Baseline corticosteroid treatment was independently associated with inferior clinical outcomes in MBM pts treated with D+T in COMBI-MB, similar to previous associations reported in immunotherapy trials for pts with MBMs. Likewise, superior outcomes in COMBI-MB patients with BRAFV600E genotype and ECOG status of zero builds on similar observations in COMB-D/V trials of extracranial disease only. The use of corticosteroids to treat symptoms is a major obstacle for the efficacy of systemic treatments for MBMs. Clinical trial information: NCT02039947.

3D Conformal Radiotherapy in Cervical Metastasis to Brain

Background. Cervical cancer is among the commonest malignancies and a top fourth leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. The five-year survival rate in locally advanced cervical cancer is 91.5%, and only 17.2% — in distant metastasis. Primary cervical cancer metastasis to brain is very rare. Report and analysis of quite rare clinical cases may shed light on this issue, helping formulate relevant therapeutic and diagnostic interventions.Materials and methods. The article describes a case of cervical cancer metastasis to brain. The patient received modern 3D conformal intensity-modulated (IMRT) and image-guided (IGRT) radiation therapies on an Elekta Synergy highenergy linear digital accelerator instrument.Results. Clinical effect has been achieved by end of treatment. Time since diagnosis of primary cervical cancer was 13 months, and 7 months — since diagnosis of brain metastasis.Discussion. The survival rate in brain metastasis is marginal-low and depends on the patient’s age, primary tumour state, presence of extracranial metastases, as well as volume, number and location of metastases in brain parenchyma. An integrated approach including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy is considered superior to improve survival and the quality of life.Conclusion. Despite sheer coverage of therapies available, the mean survival rate in intracranial metastasis remains subtle. Thereby, research and discovery of relapse and metastasis biomarkers of cervical cancer is relevant.

Characteristics of patients with brain metastases from human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer: subanalysis of Brain Metastases in Breast Cancer Registry

BackgroundUp to 40% of patients with metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer develop brain metastases (BMs). Understanding of clinical features of these patients with HER2-positive breast cancer and BMs is vital.Patients and methodsA total of 2948 patients from the Brain Metastases in Breast Cancer registry were available for this analysis, of whom 1311 had primary tumors with the HER2-positive subtype.ResultsPatients with HER2-positive breast cancer and BMs were—when compared with HER2-negative patients—slightly younger at the time of breast cancer and BM diagnosis, had a higher pathologic complete response rate after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and a higher tumor grade. Furthermore, extracranial metastases at the time of BM diagnosis were less common in HER2-positive patients, when compared with HER2-negative patients. HER2-positive patients had more often BMs in the posterior fossa, but less commonly leptomeningeal metastases. The median overall survival (OS) in all HER2-positive patients was 13.2 months (95% confidence interval 11.4-14.4). The following factors were associated with shorter OS (multivariate analysis): older age at BM diagnosis [≥60 versus <60 years: hazard ratio (HR) 1.63, P < 0.001], lower Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status (2-4 versus 0-1: HR 1.59, P < 0.001), higher number of BMs (2-3 versus 1: HR 1.30, P = 0.082; ≥4 versus 1: HR 1.51, P = 0.004; global P = 0.015), BMs in the fossa anterior (HR 1.71, P < 0.001), leptomeningeal metastases (HR 1.63, P = 0.012), symptomatic BMs at diagnosis (HR 1.35, P = 0.033) and extracranial metastases at diagnosis of BMs (HR 1.43, P = 0.020). The application of targeted therapy after the BM diagnosis (HR 0.62, P < 0.001) was associated with longer OS. HER2-positive/hormone receptor-positive patients showed longer OS than HER2-positive/hormone receptor-negative patients (median 14.3 versus 10.9 months; HR 0.86, P = 0.03), but no differences in progression-free survival were seen between both groups.ConclusionsWe identified factors associated with the prognosis of HER2-positive patients with BMs. Further research is needed to understand the factors determining the longer survival of HER2-positive/hormone receptor-positive patients.

Hippocampal Metastasis Rate Based on Non-Small Lung Cancer TNM Stage and Molecular Markers.

Hippocampal-avoidance whole-brain radiation therapy (HA-WBRT) is justified because of low hippocampal brain metastases (BM) rate and its prevention of cognitive decline. However, we hypothesize that the risk of developing BM in the hippocampal-avoidance region (HAR) may differ depending on the lung-cancer stage and molecular status. We retrospectively reviewed 123 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at the initial diagnosis of BM. The number of BMs within the HAR (5 mm expansion) was counted. The cohort was divided into patients with and without BMs in the HAR, and their clinical variables, TNM stage, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) status were compared. The most influential variable predicting BMs in the HAR was determined using multi-variable logistic regression, classification and regression tree (CART) analyses, and gradient boosting method (GBM). The feasibility of HAR expansion was tested using generalized estimating equation marginal model. Patients with BMs in the HAR were more frequently non-smokers, and more likely to have extra-cranial metastases and EGFR mutations (p<0.05). Multi-variable analysis revealed that extra-cranial metastases were independently associated with the presence of BM in the HAR (odds ratio=8.75, p=0.04). CART analysis and GBM revealed that the existence of extra-cranial metastasis was the most influential variable predicting BM occurrence in the HAR (variable importance: 23% and relative influence: 37.38). The estmated BM incidence of patients without extra-cranial metastases in th extended HAR (7.5-mm and 10-mm expansion) did not differ significantly from that in the conventional HAR. In conclusion, NSCLC patients with extra-cranial metastases were more likely to have BMs in the HAR than those without extra-cranial metastases.

Anaplastic Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma with Extracranial Bone Metastasis: A Case Report and Literature Review (P15-9.004)

Anaplastic Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma with Extracranial Bone Metastasis: A Case Report and Literature Review (P15-9.004)

Graded Prognostic Assessment (GPA) for Patients With Lung Cancer and Brain Metastases: Initial Report of the Small Cell Lung Cancer GPA and Update of the Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer GPA Including the Effect of Programmed Death Ligand 1 and Other Prognostic Factors

Patients with lung cancer and brain metastases represent a markedly heterogeneous population. Accurate prognosis is essential to optimally individualize care. In prior publications, we described the graded prognostic assessment (GPA), but a GPA for patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has never been reported, and in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the effect of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) was unknown. The 3-fold purpose of this work is to provide the initial report of an SCLC GPA, to evaluate the effect of PD-L1 on survival in patients with NSCLC, and to update the Lung GPA accordingly. A multivariable analysis of prognostic factors and treatments associated with survival was performed on 4183 patients with lung cancer (3002 adenocarcinoma, 611 nonadenocarcinoma, 570 SCLC) with newly diagnosed brain metastases between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2020, using a multi-institutional retrospective database. Significant variables were used to update the Lung GPA. Overall median survival for lung adenocarcinoma, SCLC, and nonadenocarcinoma was 17, 10, and 8 months, respectively, but varied widely by GPA from 2 to 52 months. In SCLC, the significant prognostic factors were age, performance status, extracranial metastases, and number of brain metastases. In NSCLC, the distribution of molecular markers among patients with lung adenocarcinoma and known primary tumor molecular status revealed alterations/expression in PD-L1 50% to 100%, PD-L1 1% to 49%, epidermal growth factor receptor, and anaplastic lymphoma kinase in 32%, 31%, 30%, and 7%, respectively. Median survival of patients with lung adenocarcinoma and brain metastases with 0, 1% to 49%, and ≥50% PD-L1 expression was 17, 19, and 24 months, respectively (P < .01), confirming PD-L1 is a prognostic factor. Previously identified prognostic factors for NSCLC (epidermal growth factor receptor and anaplastic lymphoma kinase status, performance status, age, number of brain metastases, and extracranial metastases) were reaffirmed. These factors were incorporated into the updated Lung GPA with robust separation between subgroups for all histologies. Survival for patients with lung cancer and brain metastases has improved but varies widely. The initial report of a GPA for SCLC is presented. For patients with NSCLC-adenocarcinoma and brain metastases, PD-L1 is a newly identified significant prognostic factor, and the previously identified factors were reaffirmed. The updated indices establish unique criteria for SCLC, NSCLC-nonadenocarcinoma, and NSCLC-adenocarcinoma (incorporating PD-L1). The updated Lung GPA, available for free at brainmetgpa.com, provides an accurate tool to estimate survival, individualize treatment, and stratify clinical trials.

Recurrent intracranial and extracranial metastases after radical pinealoma resection shown on 18F-FDG PET/CT and 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT

Recurrent intracranial and extracranial metastases after radical pinealoma resection shown on 18F-FDG PET/CT and 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT

Role of Radiosurgery and Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy for Oligometastatic Non-Oncogene Addicted NSCLC.

Simple SummaryThe definition and management of oligometastatic NSCLC have been incorporated into current guidelines on lung cancer, supporting the use of a definitive treatment with curative intent, including the focal ablation of all sites of oligometastatic involvement. Clinical evidence highlighting the use of local ablative treatment (LAT), alone or in combination with systemic therapies, demonstrated significant benefit in local control and progression-free survival, especially in “oncogene-addicted” patients, who benefit the most from the local treatment of oligoprogressive or oligorecurrent sites to restore the overall sensitivity of the metastatic disease to target therapies. On the other hand, only a few studies, with limited numbers, focused specifically on “non-oncogene” addicted patients. The aim of this study is to assess the role of LAT, referred to stereotactic ablative radiotherapy, and to report clinical outcomes of the largest retrospective series, to date, of patients with oligometastatic EGFR/ALK/ROS1 wild type NSCLC.Local ablative therapy (LAT), intended as stereotactic ablative radiotherapy or stereotactic radiosurgery, is a well-recognized effective treatment for selected patients with oligometastatic NSCLC. Current clinical evidence supports LAT alone or in combination with systemic therapies. Our retrospective mono-institutional study aims to assess the role of LAT with a peculiar focus on the largest series of non-oncogene addicted oligometastatic NSCLC patients to date. We included in this analysis all patients with the mentioned disease characteristics who underwent LAT for intracranial and/or extracranial metastases between 2011 and 2020. The main endpoints were local control (LC), progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in the whole population and after stratification for prognostic factors. We identified a series of 245 consecutive patients (314 lesions), included in this analysis (median age 69 years). In 77% of patients, a single metastasis was treated with LAT and intracranial involvement was the most frequent indication (53% of patients) in our series. The overall response rate (ORR) after LAT was 95%. In case of disease progression, 66 patients underwent new local treatments with curative intent. With a median follow-up of 18 months, median PFS was 13 months (1-year PFS 50%) and median OS was 32 months (1-year OS 75%). The median LC was not reached (1-year LC 89%). The presence of brain metastases was the only factor that negatively affected all clinical endpoints, with a 1-year LC, PFS and OS of 82%, 29% and 62% respectively, compared to 95%, 73% and 91%, respectively, for patients without BMs (p < 0.001 for each endpoint). At the multivariate analysis, mediastinal nodal involvement at baseline (p = 0.049), ECOG PS = 1 (p = 0.011), intracranial disease involvement (p = 0.001), administration of chemotherapy in combination with LAT (p = 0.020), and no delivery of further local treatment for progression or delivery of focal treatment for intracranial progression (p < 0.001) were related to a poorer OS. In our retrospective series, which is to our knowledge the largest to date, LAT showed encouraging results and confirmed the safety and effectiveness of focal treatments in non-oncogene addicted oligometastatic NSCLC patients.