Brown, Paul D.

Abstract Purpose To provide guidance to clinicians regarding therapy for patients with brain metastases from solid tumors. Methods ASCO convened an Expert Panel and conducted a systematic review of the literature. Results Thirty-two randomized trials published in 2008 or later met eligibility criteria and form the primary evidentiary base. Recommendations Surgery is a reasonable option for patients with brain metastases. Patients with large tumors with mass effect are more likely to benefit than those with multiple brain metastases and/or uncontrolled systemic disease. Patients with symptomatic brain metastases should receive local therapy regardless of the systemic therapy used. For patients with asymptomatic brain metastases, local therapy should not be deferred unless deferral is specifically recommended in this guideline. The decision to defer local therapy should be based on a multidisciplinary discussion of the potential benefits and harms that the patient may experience. Several regimens were recommended for non–small-cell lung cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma. For patients with asymptomatic brain metastases and no systemic therapy options, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) alone should be offered to patients with one to four unresected brain metastases, excluding small-cell lung carcinoma. SRS alone to the surgical cavity should be offered to patients with one to two resected brain metastases. SRS, whole brain radiation therapy, or their combination are reasonable options for other patients. Memantine and hippocampal avoidance should be offered to patients who receive whole brain radiation therapy and have no hippocampal lesions and 4 months or more expected survival. Patients with asymptomatic brain metastases with either Karnofsky Performance Status ≤ 50 or Karnofsky Performance Status < 70 with no systemic therapy options do not derive benefit from radiation therapy. Additional information is available at www.asco.org/neurooncology-guidelines.

PURPOSE To provide guidance to clinicians regarding therapy for patients with brain metastases from solid tumors. METHODS ASCO convened an Expert Panel and conducted a systematic review of the literature. RESULTS Thirty-two randomized trials published in 2008 or later met eligibility criteria and form the primary evidentiary base. RECOMMENDATIONS Surgery is a reasonable option for patients with brain metastases. Patients with large tumors with mass effect are more likely to benefit than those with multiple brain metastases and/or uncontrolled systemic disease. Patients with symptomatic brain metastases should receive local therapy regardless of the systemic therapy used. For patients with asymptomatic brain metastases, local therapy should not be deferred unless deferral is specifically recommended in this guideline. The decision to defer local therapy should be based on a multidisciplinary discussion of the potential benefits and harms that the patient may experience. Several regimens were recommended for non–small-cell lung cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma. For patients with asymptomatic brain metastases and no systemic therapy options, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) alone should be offered to patients with one to four unresected brain metastases, excluding small-cell lung carcinoma. SRS alone to the surgical cavity should be offered to patients with one to two resected brain metastases. SRS, whole brain radiation therapy, or their combination are reasonable options for other patients. Memantine and hippocampal avoidance should be offered to patients who receive whole brain radiation therapy and have no hippocampal lesions and 4 months or more expected survival. Patients with asymptomatic brain metastases with either Karnofsky Performance Status ≤ 50 or Karnofsky Performance Status < 70 with no systemic therapy options do not derive benefit from radiation therapy. Additional information is available at www.asco.org/neurooncology-guidelines .

Abstract Neurocognitive function (NCF) deficits are common in patients with brain metastases, occurring in up to 90% of cases. NCF deficits may be caused by tumor-related factors and/or treatment for the metastasis, including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. In recent years, strategies to prevent negative impact of treatments and ameliorate cognitive deficits for patients with brain tumors have gained momentum. In this review, we report on research that has established the efficacy of preventative and rehabilitative therapies for NCF deficits in patients with brain metastases. Surgical strategies include the use of laser interstitial thermal therapy and intraoperative mapping. Radiotherapy approaches include focal treatments such as stereotactic radiosurgery and tailored approaches such as hippocampal avoidant whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT). Pharmacologic options include use of the neuroprotectant memantine to reduce cognitive decline induced by WBRT and incorporation of medications traditionally used for attention and memory problems. Integration of neuropsychology into the care of patients with brain metastases helps characterize cognitive patterns, educate patients and families regarding their management, and guide rehabilitative therapies. These and other strategies will become even more important for long-term survivors of brain metastases as treatment options improve.

Abstract INTRODUCTION Multiple meningiomas (MM) occurs in up to 18% of meningioma patients and progression data are scarce. The objective of this study is to explore the influence of number of lesions and clinical characteristics on progression-free survival (PFS) and time to a second intervention (TTSI) in patients with WHO grade 1 meningiomas. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed records of all adults diagnosed with a meningioma at our three main sites from January 2009 to May 2020. Progression was considered as time from diagnosis until radiographic progression of the originally resected meningioma. A secondary analysis was carried to evaluate the time from diagnosis to time of a second intervention. Univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted to assess whether number of lesions or any associated variables (age, sex, race, radiation, location, and extent of resection) had a significant impact on PFS and TTSI. RESULTS 838 patients were included. Log-rank test evaluating PFS and TTSI between single and multiple lesions showed significantly shorter progression for MM (p&lt; 0.001 and p&lt; 0.001, respectively). Multivariable Cox regression showed significantly inferior PFS on MM vs. single lesion (HR 2.262 [CI 95%, 1.392-3.677], p=0.001) and a significantly inferior TTSI for patients with MM vs. single meningioma (HR 2.377 [CI 95%, 1.617 – 3.494], p=0.001). When input as a continuous variable, PFS was significantly inferior for each additional meningioma (HR 1.350 [CI 95% 1.074-1.698], p=0.010) and TTSI is significantly inferior as well (HR 1.428 [CI 95% 1.189 – 1.716], p&lt; 0.001). African-Americans had an inferior PFS when compared to Non-Hispanic White patients (HR 3.472 [CI 95% 1.083-11.129], p=0.036). CONCLUSION The PFS of meningiomas is influenced by the number of lesions present. Patients with MM are more prone to undergo a second intervention for progressive disease. Hence, a closer follow-up may be warranted in patients who present with multiple lesions.

Abstract PURPOSE Standard of care for craniopharyngiomas is surgery with or without radiotherapy (RT). Cohort A of Alliance A071601 evaluated the efficacy of BRAF/MEK inhibition with vemurafenib/cobimetinib in patients with previously untreated papillary craniopharyngiomas (PCP), which carry the BRAF V600E mutation. Cohort B is currently enrolling patients with recurrence after RT. In a correlative analysis, we examined changes in RT volumes after BRAF/MEK therapy in Cohort A. METHODS Previously unirradiated patients with BRAF-mutated PCP were treated with vemurafenib/cobimetinib. Sixteen patients had scans available before starting vemurafenib/cobimetinib (“pre-therapy”) and after completing therapy (“post-therapy”). Two patients went off study treatment after 8 and 9 days due to side-effects and were excluded for this analysis. Gross target volumes (GTV) were contoured on pre-therapy and post-therapy scans. On post-therapy scans, an additional target comprising gross disease and at-risk regions for microscopic residual disease (GTV-micro) was defined and considered the treatment volume. Clinical target volume (CTV) was a 5-mm uniform expansion on pre-therapy GTV and post-therapy GTV-micro. Volumes were independently reviewed by two radiation oncologists. Changes in volumes from pre- versus post-therapy were compared using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS In 14 patients evaluated, 57% were female and median age at enrollment was 49.5 years (range 33-83). Median time on treatment was 8.9 months (range 4.0-18.0). Median GTV pre-therapy was 3.8 mL (range 0.2-23.4) versus 0.3 mL (range 0.0-3.2) post-therapy (p=0.0001) and 1.7 mL (range 0.1-8.0) post-therapy GTV-micro (p=0.0001). Median CTV pre-therapy was 13.7 mL (range 2.8-51.8) versus 9.1 mL (range 2.2-27.5) post-therapy (p=0.0001). All tumors abutted the optic chiasm pre-therapy, only 6 did post-therapy. CONCLUSIONS Vemurafenib/cobimetinib resulted in smaller RT volumes. BRAF/MEK inhibitors could reduce RT volumes and spare dose to surrounding normal structures. Enrollment to Cohort B of Alliance A071601 should be considered for patients with recurrent tumors after RT. SUPPORT https://acknowledgments.alliancefound.org

Abstract PURPOSE Vertebral compression fracture (VCF) is a potential adverse effect following stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for spinal metastases. In this analysis, we developed and internally validated a risk stratification model for VCF. METHODS From an initial set of 680 treatments, we excluded those with proton therapy, prior surgical intervention, or missing data. The final dataset had 464 treatments in 313 patients. Delineations of VCF and all radiographic components of the spinal instability neoplastic score (SINS) were determined by a radiologist. Recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) was conducted using separate training (70%), internal validation (15%), and test (15%) sets. The log-rank test was used as the criterion for node splitting. RESULTS With a median follow-up of 21 months, we identified 84 VCF (18%), including 65 (77%) de novo and 19 (23%) progressive fractures. There was a median 9 months (IQR: 3 – 21) to VCF. From an initial set of 15 candidate variables, six were identified using the backwards selection method, feature importance testing, and a correlation heatmap. Four were then selected in the highest-fidelity RPA models: epidural tumor extension, lumbar location, gross tumor volume &gt; 10 cc, and SINS &gt; 6. One point was assigned to each variable, and the resulting multivariate Cox model had a concordance of 0.760. Each one point increase in score was associated with increasing rates of VCF. Low-risk lesions (score: 0-1, n=273) had 2-year freedom from VCF of 92%, compared to 80% for intermediate-risk (score: 2, n=99) and 56% (score: 3-4, n=92) for high-risk lesions (p &lt; 0.0001). Cumulative incidence curves with death as a competing risk showed increased VCF with higher scores via Gray’s test (p &lt; 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Our internally-validated model identifies a subgroup of patients with high risk for VCF who may benefit from prophylactic surgical stabilization or vertebroplasty.

Abstract Medulloblastoma is a posterior fossa tumor rarely diagnosed in adults. Treatment includes craniospinal irradiation (CSI). Proton CSI is increasingly utilized to decrease radiation dose to normal tissues, despite the lack of randomized data demonstrating decreased toxicity compared to photon CSI. This single institution retrospective study of 39 adult medulloblastoma patients includes nineteen patients treated with photon CSI prior to 2015, and twenty treated with proton CSI thereafter. Median age was 28 years (range 18-66). Molecular subtype was most commonly sonic hedgehog (68%). The most common fractionation schedule was 36 Gy CSI in 20 fractions (85% of photon and 58% of proton patients) with a boost to 54-55.8 Gy (92%). Proton CSI delivered significantly lower mean doses to the cochleae (median 32 Gy vs. 44 Gy), lacrimal glands (8 vs. 36 Gy), lens (2 vs. 28 Gy), parotid glands (3 vs. 26 Gy), pharyngeal constrictors (6 vs. 15 Gy), esophagus (2 vs. 29 Gy), heart (0 vs. 14 Gy), lungs (1 vs. 7 Gy), liver (0.1 vs. 7 Gy), and skin (38 vs. 51 Gy) (all p&lt; 0.001). Patients receiving proton CSI had significantly lower rates of acute dysphagia of any grade (5% vs. 35%, p= 0.044) and decreased median weight loss during radiation (+1.0 vs. -2.8 kg, p= 0.011). Acute hospitalization was associated with increased weight loss (p= 0.009). Median follow-up was 2.9 and 12.9 years for proton and photon patients, respectively, limiting late toxicity and outcome comparisons. At last follow-up five photon patients had died (two of progressive disease, three without recurrence ages 41-63) and 21% had experienced major cardiovascular events. At 10 years, 89% were alive and 82% were recurrence free. In conclusion, this study demonstrates dosimetric improvements with proton CSI, potentially leading to decreased acute toxicity including dysphagia and weight loss during treatment.