Gondi, Vinai

2009 Background: NRG CC001, a phase III trial of WBRT plus memantine (WBRT+M) with or without HA, sought to evaluate the neuro-protective effects of lowering the hippocampal radiation dose. Methods: Patients (pts) with BM were stratified by RPA class and prior radiosurgery/surgery and randomized to WBRT+M or HA-WBRT+M (30Gy/10 fractions). Standardized NCF tests were performed at baseline, 2, 4, 6, and 12 months (mos). The primary endpoint was NCF failure, defined as decline using the reliable change index on Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised, Trail Making Test, or Controlled Oral Word Association. Cumulative incidence estimated NCF failure (death without NCF failure was competing risk); between-arms differences tested using Gray’s test. Deterioration at each collection time point was tested using a chi-square test. Patient-reported symptoms were assessed using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory Brain Tumor module and analyzed using mixed effects models and t-tests. Results: From 7/2016 to 3/2018, 518 pts were randomized. Median follow-up was 7.9 mos. HA-WBRT+M was associated with lower NCF failure risk (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 0.74, p = 0.02) due to lower risk of deterioration in executive function at 4 mos (p = 0.01) and encoding (p = 0.049) and consolidation (p = 0.02) at 6 mos. Age≤61 predicted lower NCF failure risk (HR = 0.60, p = 0.0002); non-significant test for interaction indicated independent effects of HA and age. Patient-reported fatigue (p = 0.036), difficulty speaking (p = 0.049) and problems remembering things (p = 0.013) at 6 mos favored the HA-WBRT+M arm. Imputation models accounting for missing data also favored the HA-WBRT+M arm for patient-reported cognition (p = 0.011) and symptom interference (p = 0.008) at 6 mos. Treatment arms did not differ in toxicity, overall survival, or intracranial progression. Conclusions: HA during WBRT+M for BM better preserves NCF and patient-reported symptoms, while achieving similar intracranial control and survival. Supported by grants UG1CA189867 (NCORP), U10CA180868 (NRG Oncology Operations), DCP from the National Cancer Institute. Clinical trial information: NCT02360215.

The authors consider the importance of a careful, balanced review of therapeutic options with patients and the current understanding of the therapeutic ratio of whole‐brain radiotherapy in patient populations with widespread intracranial disease. The goal of reviewing these options is to provide an unbiased discussion of the potential benefits and risks of whole‐brain radiotherapy, particularly with regard to cognitive outcomes.

Abstract Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) are non-invasive, loco-regional, anti-mitotic treatment modality, based on low intensity alternating electric fields. Efficacy of TTFields in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been demonstrated in multiple in vitro and in vivo models, and in a phase I/II clinical study. TTFields treatment to the brain was safe and extended overall survival in newly-diagnosed glioblastoma patients. The study [NCT02831959] objectives are to test the efficacy, safety and neurocognitive outcomes of TTFields in this patient population. Patients (N=270) with 1-10 brain metastases (BM) from NSCLC are randomized 1:1 to stereotactic radio surgery (SRS) followed by TTFields or supportive care. Patients are followed-up every two months until 2nd intracranial progression. Patients in the control arm may cross over to TTFields at the time of 2nd intracranial progression. Key inclusion criteria: KPS ≥70, 1 inoperable or 2-10 brain lesions amenable to SRS, optimal standard therapy for the extracranial disease, no brain-directed therapy, no signs of significantly increased intracranial pressure, and no electronic implantable devices in the brain. Endpoints included time to 1st intracranial progression or neurological death (primary); time to neurocognitive failure, HVLT, COWAT and TMT); overall survival; radiological response rate; quality-of-life; and adverse events. Treatment comprised continuous TTFields at 150 kHz for > 18 hours/day applied to the brain within 7 days of SRS. The treatment system is a portable medical device allowing normal daily activities. The device delivers TTFields to the brain using 4 Transducer Arrays, which may be covered by a wig or hat. Patients receive the best standard of care for their systemic disease. Statistical Considerations: This is a prospective, randomized, multicenter study. The sample size (N=270) was calculated using a log-rank test (Lakatos 1988 and 2002) with 80% power at a two sided alpha of 0.05 to detect a hazard ratio of 0.57. Citation Format: Minesh Mehta, Vinai Gondi, Manmeet Ahluwalia,, Paul D. Brown. TTFields and radiosurgery for 1 to 10 brain metastases from NSCLC in the phase III METIS study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr CT151.

An estimated 20% of patients with cancer will develop brain metastases. Approximately 200,000 individuals in the United States alone receive whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) each year to treat brain metastases. Historically, the prognosis of patients with brain metastases has been poor; however, with new therapies, this is changing. Because patients are living longer following the diagnosis and treatment of brain metastases, there has been rising concern about treatment-related toxicities associated with WBRT, including neurocognitive toxicity. In addition, recent clinical trials have raised questions about the use of WBRT. To better understand this rapidly changing landscape, this review outlines the treatment roles and toxicities of WBRT and alternative therapies for the management of brain metastases.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a devastating brain tumor with poor prognosis despite advances in surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Survival of patients with glioblastoma remains poor, with only 1 in 4 patients alive at 2 years, and a 5-year survival rate of about 5%. Recurrence is nearly universal and, after recurrence, prognosis is poor with very short progression-free survival and overall survival (OS). Various salvage chemotherapy strategies have been applied with limited success. Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) are a novel treatment modality approved for treatment of either newly diagnosed or recurrent GBM. TTFields therapy involves a medical device and transducer arrays to provide targeted delivery of low intensity, intermediate frequency, alternating electric fields to produce antimitotic effects selective for rapidly dividing tumor cells with limited toxicity. In the phase 3 EF-14 trial, TTFields plus temozolomide provided significantly longer progression-free survival and OS compared with temozolomide alone in patients with newly diagnosed GBM after initial chemoradiotherapy. The addition of TTFields to standard therapy improved median OS from 15.6 to 20.5 months (P=0.04). In the phase 3 EF-11 trial, for recurrent GBM, TTFields provided comparable efficacy as investigator’s choice systemic therapy, with improved patient-reported quality of life and a lower incidence of serious adverse events. Primary toxicity associated with TTFields is skin irritation generally managed with array relocation and topical treatments including antibiotics and steroids. TTFields therapy has demonstrated proven efficacy in management of GBM, including improvement in OS for patients with newly diagnosed GBM, and is under current investigation in other brain and extracranial tumors.

Abstract BACKGROUND Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) are noninvasive regional antimitotic treatment modality, based on low intensity alternating electric fields. Efficacy of TTFields in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been demonstrated in multiple in vitro and in vivo models, and in a phase I/II clinical study. TTFields treatment to the brain was shown to be safe and to extend overall survival in newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients. TRIAL DESIGN 270 patients with 1-10 brain metastases (BM) from NSCLC will be randomized in a ratio of 1:1 to receive stereotactic radio surgery (SRS) followed by either TTFields or supportive care alone. Patients are followed-up every two months until 2nd cerebral progression. Patients in the control arm may cross over to receive TTFields at the time of 2st cerebral progression. Objectives: To test the efficacy, safety and neurocognitive outcomes of TTFields in this patient population. Endpoints: Time to 1st cerebral progression based on the RANO-BM Criteria or neurological death (primary); time to neurocognitive failure based on the following tests: HVLT, COWAT and TMT; overall survival; radiological response rate; quality of life; adverse events severity and frequency (secondary). Main eligibility criteria: Karnofsky performance status (KPS) of 70 or above, 1 inoperable or 2-10 brain lesions amenable to SRS, optimal standard therapy for the extracranial disease, no brain-directed therapy, no signs of significantly increased intracranial pressure, no electronic implantable devices in the brain. Treatment: Continuous TTFields at 150 kHz for at least 18 hours per day will be applied to the brain within 7 days of SRS. The treatment system is a portable medical device allowing normal daily activities. The device delivers TTFields to the brain using 4 Transducer Arrays, which may be covered by a wig or a hat for cosmetic reasons. Patients will receive the best standard of care for their systemic disease. Statistical Considerations: This is a prospective, randomized, multicenter study for 270 patients. The sample size was calculated using a log-rank test (based on Lakatos 1988 and 2002) and has 80% power at a two sided alpha of 0.05 to detect a hazard ratio of 0.57. Citation Format: Minish P. Mehta, Vinai Gondi, Paul D. Brown. METIS: A phase 3 study of radiosurgery with TTFields for 1-10 brain metastases from NSCLC [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr CT161. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-CT161