Laser interstitial thermal therapy for new and recurrent meningioma: a prospective and retrospective case series.

OBJECTIVE: Meningiomas are the most common primary brain tumors in adults and a subset are aggressive lesions resistant to standard therapies. Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) has been successfully applied to other brain tumors, and recent work aims to explore the safety and long-term outcome experiences of LITT for both new and recurrent meningiomas. The authors' objective was to report safety and outcomes data of the largest cohort of LITT-treated meningioma patients to date. METHODS: Eight United States-based hospitals enrolled patients with meningioma in the Laser Ablation of Abnormal Neurological Tissue Using Robotic NeuroBlate System (LAANTERN) prospective multicenter registry and/or contributed additional retrospective enrollments for this cohort study. Demographic, procedural, safety, and outcomes data were collected and analyzed using standard statistical methods. RESULTS: Twenty adult patients (12 prospective and 8 retrospective) with LITT-targeted meningiomas were accrued. Patients underwent LITT for new (6 patients) and recurrent (14 patients) tumors (ranging from the 1st to 12th recurrence). The 30-day complication rate was 10%. Twenty percent of patients (4/20) had exhausted all other treatment options. Median length of follow-up was 1.3 years. One-third of new (2/6) and one-half of recurrent (7/14) meningiomas had disease progression during follow-up. One-year estimated local control (LC), progression-free survival, and overall survival rates were 55.3%, 48.4%, and 86.3%, respectively. In the 12 patients who had ≥ 91% ablative coverage, 1-year estimated LC was 61.4%. The complication rate was 10% (2/20), with 1 complication being transient and resolving postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: This cohort study supports the safety of the procedure for this tumor type. LITT can offer a much-needed treatment option, especially for patients with multiply recurrent meningiomas who have limited remaining alternatives.

Executive Summary of the American Radium Society Appropriate Use Criteria for Brain Metastases in EGFR-mutated and ALK-fusion Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The American Radium Society (ARS) Central Nervous System (CNS) committee reviewed literature on epidermal growth factor receptor mutated (EGFRm) and ALK-fusion (ALK+) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for the treatment of brain metastases (BrMs) from non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) to generate appropriate use guidelines addressing use of TKIs in conjunction with or in lieu of radiotherapy (RT). METHODS: The panel developed three key questions to guide systematic review: can radiotherapy be deferred in patients receiving EGFR or ALK TKIs at 1) diagnosis or 2) recurrence? Should TKI be administered concurrently with RT (3)? Two literature searches were performed (May 2019 and December 2023). The panel developed 8 model cases and voted on treatment options using a 9-point scale, with 1-3, 4-6 and 7-9 corresponding to usually not appropriate, may be appropriate, and usually appropriate (respectively), per the UCLA/RAND Appropriateness Method. RESULTS: Consensus was achieved in only 4 treatment scenarios, all consistent with existing ARS-AUC guidelines for multiple BrM. The panel did not reach consensus that RT can be appropriately deferred in patients with BrM receiving CNS penetrant ALK or EGFR TKIs, though median scores indicated deferral may be appropriate under most circumstances. Whole brain RT with concurrent TKI generated broad disagreement except in cases with 2-4 BrM, where it was considered usually not appropriate. CONCLUSIONS: We identified no definitive studies dictating optimal sequencing of TKIs and RT for EGFRm and ALK+ BrM. Until such studies are completed, the committee hopes these cases guide decision-making in this complex clinical space.

Circulating Tumor Reactive KIR+CD8+ T cells Suppress Anti-Tumor Immunity in Patients with Melanoma.

Effective anti-tumor immunity is largely driven by cytotoxic CD8+ T cells that can specifically recognize tumor antigens. However, the factors which ultimately dictate successful tumor rejection remain poorly understood. Here we identify a subpopulation of CD8+ T cells which are tumor antigen-specific in patients with melanoma but resemble KIR+CD8+ T cells with a regulatory function (Tregs). These tumor antigen-specific KIR+CD8+ T cells are detectable in both the tumor and the blood, and higher levels of this population are associated with worse overall survival. Our findings therefore suggest that KIR+CD8+ Tregs are tumor antigen-specific but uniquely suppress anti-tumor immunity in patients with melanoma.

Local control and survival after stereotactic radiosurgery for colorectal cancer brain metastases: an international multicenter analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to characterize local tumor control (LC), overall survival (OS), and safety of stereotactic radiosurgery for colorectal brain metastasis (CRBM). METHODS: Ten international institutions participating in the International Radiosurgery Research Foundation provided data for this retrospective case series. This study included 187 patients with CRBM (281 tumors), with a median age of 62 years and 56.7% being male. Most patients (53.5%) had solitary tumors, although 10.7% had > 5 tumors. The median tumor volume was 2.7 cm3 (IQR 0.22-8.1 cm3), and the median margin dose was 20 Gy (IQR 18-22 Gy). RESULTS: The 3-year LC and OS rates were 72% and 20%, respectively. Symptomatic adverse radiation effects occurred in 1.6% of patients. In the multivariate analysis, age > 65 years and tumor volume > 4.0 cm3 were significant predictors of tumor progression (hazard ratio [HR] 2.6, 95% CI 1.4-4.9; p = 0.003 and HR 3.4, 95% CI 1.7-6.9; p < 0.001, respectively). Better performance status (Karnofsky Performance Scale score > 80) was associated with a reduced risk of tumor progression (HR 0.38, 95% CI 0.19-0.73; p = 0.004). Patient age > 62 years (HR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.3; p = 0.03) and the presence of active extracranial disease (HR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.4; p = 0.009) were significantly associated with worse OS. CONCLUSIONS: Stereotactic radiosurgery offers a high LC rate and a low rate of symptomatic adverse radiation effects for the majority of CRBMs. The OS and LC favored younger patients with high functional performance scores and inactive extracranial disease.

PACS-Integrated Tools for Peritumoral Edema Volumetrics Provide Additional Information to RANO-BM-Based Assessment of Lung Cancer Brain Metastases after Stereotactic Radiotherapy: A Pilot Study.

Stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) is the standard of care treatment for brain metastases (METS) today. Nevertheless, there is limited understanding of how posttreatment lesional volumetric changes may assist prediction of lesional outcome. This is partly due to the paucity of volumetric segmentation tools. Edema alone can cause significant clinical symptoms and, therefore, needs independent study along with standard measurements of contrast-enhancing tumors. In this study, we aimed to compare volumetric changes of edema to RANO-BM-based measurements of contrast-enhancing lesion size. Patients with NSCLC METS ≥10 mm on post-contrast T1-weighted image and treated with SRT had measurements for up to seven follow-up scans using a PACS-integrated tool segmenting the peritumoral FLAIR hyperintense volume. Two-dimensional contrast-enhancing and volumetric edema changes were compared by creating treatment response curves. Fifty NSCLC METS were included in the study. The initial median peritumoral edema volume post-SRT relative to pre-SRT baseline was 37% (IQR 8-114%). Most of the lesions with edema volume reduction post-SRT experienced no increase in edema during the study. In over 50% of METS, the pattern of edema volume change was different than the pattern of contrast-enhancing lesion change at different timepoints, which was defined as incongruent. Lesions demonstrating incongruence at the first follow-up were more likely to progress subsequently. Therefore, edema assessment of METS post-SRT provides critical additional information to RANO-BM.

Selected-Lesion Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SL-SRS) as a Novel Strategy in the Treatment of Patients With Multiple Brain Metastases.

INTRODUCTION: With the diminishing use of whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT), there is increasing debate regarding the maximum number of brain metastases that should be treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). In patients with >10-15 lesions, some groups are proposing a new approach - selected-lesion SRS (SL-SRS) - where only a subset of intracranial lesions are chosen for irradiation. This study is an initial look into this practice. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional exploratory survey study. A survey of 19 questions was created by the International Radiosurgery Research Foundation (IRRF) using open-ended and multiple-choice style questions on SL-SRS practices and indications with the goal of qualitatively understanding how SL-SRS is being implemented worldwide. The survey was distributed to physicians in the United States (US) and internationally who are members of the IRRF and who perform SRS frequently. Ten out of 50 IRRF institutions provided responses reflecting the practices of 16 physicians. RESULTS: SL-SRS is being performed at 8/10 institutions. The most common reasons for using SL-SRS included patients with prior WBRT, patients with progressing systemic disease with central nervous system (CNS)-penetrating or immunotherapies available, specific requests from medical oncology, and cooperative studies using this approach. Lesion size was cited as the most important factor when choosing to irradiate any single lesion. The majority of respondents reported 30 mm and 40 mm as size cutoffs (by largest dimension) for treatment of a lesion in eloquent and non-eloquent locations, respectively. Eloquence of lesion location and attributable symptoms were also considered important. Progression of untreated lesions was the most common reason reported for bringing patients back for additional treatment. CONCLUSION: The responses to this survey show that SL-SRS is being used, allowing for small/asymptomatic brain metastases to be left safely unirradiated. It is currently used in patients who have >10-15 lesions with prior WBRT, those with progression of extracranial disease but with acceptable systemic treatment options, and those with poor functional status. The incorporation of this new approach into clinical trials should be considered for the safe study of the efficacy of new CNS-penetrating systemic therapies.

National Cancer Institute Collaborative Workshop on Shaping the Landscape of Brain Metastases Research: challenges and recommended priorities.

Brain metastases are an increasing global public health concern, even as survival rates improve for patients with metastatic disease. Both metastases and the sequelae of their treatment are key determinants of the inter-related priorities of patient survival, function, and quality of life, mandating a multidimensional approach to clinical care and research. At a virtual National Cancer Institute Workshop in September, 2022, key stakeholders convened to define research priorities to address the crucial areas of unmet need for patients with brain metastases to achieve meaningful advances in patient outcomes. This Policy Review outlines existing knowledge gaps, collaborative opportunities, and specific recommendations regarding consensus priorities and future directions in brain metastases research. Achieving major advances in research will require enhanced coordination between the ongoing efforts of individual organisations and consortia. Importantly, the continual and active engagement of patients and patient advocates will be necessary to ensure that the directionality of all efforts reflects what is most meaningful in the context of patient care.

Management of patients with brain metastases from NSCLC without a genetic driver alteration: upfront radiotherapy or immunotherapy?

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer and the most common cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Brain metastases (BM) are detected in 21% of patients with lung cancer at the time of diagnosis and are the sole metastatic site in 35% of patients with stage IV disease. The best upfront therapy for non-small-cell lung cancer depends on both tumor programmed death 1 ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression and the presence or absence of a targetable genetic alteration in genes such as epidermal growth factor receptor and anaplastic lymphoma kinase. In the absence of a targetable genetic alteration, options include chemotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), and ICI combined with chemotherapy. Upfront local therapy followed by systemic therapy is the current standard of care for the management of BM, and may include whole brain radiotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), or craniotomy for surgical resection followed by consolidative SRS. This paradigm is effective in achieving local control, but it remains unclear if this approach is necessary for every patient. Prospective and retrospective data suggest that ICIs with or without chemotherapy can have activity against BM; however, appropriately selecting patients who are able to safely forgo local therapy and start an ICI-based treatment remains a challenge. To be considered for upfront ICI-based therapy, a patient should be free of neurologic symptoms, lesions should be small and not located in a critical region of the central nervous system, if corticosteroids are indicated the requirement should be low (prednisone 10 mg/d or less), and PD-L1 expression should be high. The decision to proceed with upfront ICI without local therapy to BM should be made in a multidisciplinary fashion and patients should undergo frequent surveillance imaging so that salvage local therapy can be administered when necessary. Prospective clinical trials are needed to validate this approach before it can be widely adopted.

Comparison of first-line radiosurgery for small-cell and non-small cell lung cancer brain metastases (CROSS-FIRE).

INTRODUCTION: Historical reservations regarding stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) brain metastases include concerns for short-interval and diffuse central nervous system (CNS) progression, poor prognoses, and increased neurological mortality specific to SCLC histology. We compared SRS outcomes for SCLC and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) where SRS is well established. METHODS: Multicenter first-line SRS outcomes for SCLC and NSCLC from 2000 to 2022 were retrospectively collected (n = 892 SCLC, n = 4785 NSCLC). Data from the prospective Japanese Leksell Gamma Knife Society (JLGK0901) clinical trial of first-line SRS were analyzed as a comparison cohort (n = 98 SCLC, n = 814 NSCLC). Overall survival (OS) and CNS progression were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard and Fine-Gray models, respectively, with multivariable adjustment for cofactors including age, sex, performance status, year, extracranial disease status, and brain metastasis number and volume. Mutation-stratified analyses were performed in propensity score-matched retrospective cohorts of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) positive NSCLC, mutation-negative NSCLC, and SCLC. RESULTS: OS was superior for patients with NSCLC compared to SCLC in the retrospective dataset (median OS = 10.5 vs 8.6 months; P < .001) and in the JLGK0901 dataset. Hazard estimates for first CNS progression favoring NSCLC were similar in both datasets but reached statistical significance in the retrospective dataset only (multivariable hazard ratio = 0.82, 95% confidence interval = 0.73 to 0.92, P = .001). In the propensity score-matched cohorts, there were continued OS advantages for NSCLC patients (median OS = 23.7 [EGFR and ALK positive NSCLC] vs 13.6 [mutation-negative NSCLC] vs 10.4 months [SCLC], pairwise P values < 0.001), but no statistically significant differences in CNS progression were observed in the matched cohorts. Neurological mortality and number of lesions at CNS progression were similar for NSCLC and SCLC patients. Leptomeningeal progression was increased in patients with NSCLC compared to SCLC in the retrospective dataset only (multivariable hazard ratio = 1.61, 95% confidence interval = 1.14 to 2.26, P = .007). CONCLUSIONS: After SRS, SCLC histology was associated with shorter OS compared to NSCLC. CNS progression occurred earlier in SCLC patients overall but was similar in patients matched on baseline factors. SCLC was not associated with increased neurological mortality, number of lesions at CNS progression, or leptomeningeal progression compared to NSCLC. These findings may better inform clinical expectations and individualized decision making regarding SRS for SCLC patients.

Efficacy of laser interstitial thermal therapy for biopsy-proven radiation necrosis in radiographically recurrent brain metastases.

Background: Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) in the setting of post-SRS radiation necrosis (RN) for patients with brain metastases has growing evidence for efficacy. However, questions remain regarding hospitalization, local control, symptom control, and concurrent use of therapies. Methods: Demographics, intraprocedural data, safety, Karnofsky performance status (KPS), and survival data were prospectively collected and then analyzed on patients who consented between 2016-2020 and who were undergoing LITT for biopsy-proven RN at one of 14 US centers. Data were monitored for accuracy. Statistical analysis included individual variable summaries, multivariable Fine and Gray analysis, and Kaplan-Meier estimated survival. Results: Ninety patients met the inclusion criteria. Four patients underwent 2 ablations on the same day. Median hospitalization time was 32.5 hours. The median time to corticosteroid cessation after LITT was 13.0 days (0.0, 1229.0) and cumulative incidence of lesional progression was 19% at 1 year. Median post-procedure overall survival was 2.55 years [1.66, infinity] and 77.1% at one year as estimated by KaplanMeier. Median KPS remained at 80 through 2-year follow-up. Seizure prevalence was 12% within 1-month post-LITT and 7.9% at 3 months; down from 34.4% within 60-day prior to procedure. Conclusions: LITT for RN was not only again found to be safe with low patient morbidity but was also a highly effective treatment for RN for both local control and symptom management (including seizures). In addition to averting expected neurological death, LITT facilitates ongoing systemic therapy (in particular immunotherapy) by enabling the rapid cessation of steroids, thereby facilitating maximal possible survival for these patients.

Local Control and Survival Outcomes After Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Brain Metastases From Gastrointestinal Primaries: An International Multicenter Analysis.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data regarding outcomes for patients with gastrointestinal (GI) primaries and brain metastases treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). OBJECTIVE: To examine clinical outcomes after SRS for patients with brain metastases from GI primaries and evaluate potential prognostic factors. METHODS: The International Radiosurgery Research Foundation centers were queried for patients with brain metastases from GI primaries managed with SRS. Primary outcomes were local control (LC) and overall survival (OS). Kaplan-Meier analysis was used for univariate analysis (UVA) of prognostic factors. Factors significant on UVA were evaluated with a Cox multivariate analysis proportional hazards model. Logistic regressions were used to examine correlations with RN. RESULTS: We identified 263 eligible patients with 543 brain metastases. Common primary sites were rectal (31.2%), colon (31.2%), and esophagus (25.5%) with a median age of 61.6 years (range: 37-91.4 years) and a median Karnofsky performance status (KPS) of 90% (range: 40%-100%). One-year and 2-year LC rates were 83.5% (95% CI: 78.9%-87.1%) and 73.0% (95% CI: 66.4%-78.5%), respectively. On UVA, age >65 years ( P = .001), dose <20 Gy ( P = .006) for single-fraction plans, KPS <90% ( P < .001), and planning target volume ≥2cc ( P = .007) were associated with inferior LC. All factors other than dose were significant on multivariate analysis ( P ≤ .002). One-year and 2-year OS rates were 68.0% (95% CI: 61.5%-73.6%) and 31.2% (95% CI: 24.6%-37.9%), respectively. Age > 65 years ( P = .006), KPS <90% ( P = .005), and extracranial metastases ( P = .05) were associated with inferior OS. CONCLUSION: SRS resulted in comparable LC with common primaries. Age and KPS were associated with both LC and OS with planning target volume and extracranial metastases correlating with LC and OS, respectively. These factors should be considered in GI cancer patient selection for SRS.

Lenvatinib or anti-VEGF in combination with anti-PD-1 differentially augments antitumor activity in melanoma.

Targeting tumor-associated blood vessels to increase immune infiltration may enhance treatment effectiveness, yet limited data exist regarding anti-angiogenesis effects on the tumor microenvironment (TME). We hypothesized that dual targeting of angiogenesis with immune checkpoints would improve both intracranial and extracranial disease. We used subcutaneous and left ventricle melanoma models to evaluate anti-PD-1/anti-VEGF and anti-PD-1/lenvatinib (pan-VEGFR inhibitor) combinations. Cytokine/chemokine profiling and flow cytometry were performed to assess signaling and immune-infiltrating populations. An in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) model was utilized to study intracranial treatment effects on endothelial integrity and leukocyte transmigration. Anti-PD-1 with either anti-VEGF or lenvatinib improved survival and decreased tumor growth in systemic melanoma murine models; treatment increased Th1 cytokine/chemokine signaling. Lenvatinib decreased tumor-associated macrophages but increased plasmacytoid DCs early in treatment; this effect was not evident with anti-VEGF. Both lenvatinib and anti-VEGF resulted in decreased intratumoral blood vessels. Although anti-VEGF promoted endothelial stabilization in an in vitro BBB model, while lenvatinib did not, both regimens enabled leukocyte transmigration. The combined targeting of PD-1 and VEGF or its receptors promotes enhanced melanoma antitumor activity, yet their effects on the TME are quite different. These studies provide insights into dual anti-PD-1 and anti-angiogenesis combinations.

Preliminary dosimetric comparison between fixed and rotating source stereotactic radiosurgery systems.

PURPOSE: The Akesis Galaxy RTi (AK) is a novel rotational 60 Co-based cranial stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) system. While similar systems have been compared against the fixed-source Leksell Gamma Knife (GK) system using stylized phantoms, dosimetric plan quality with realistic anatomy has yet to be characterized for this or any other rotating system versus GK. This study aims to benchmark AK dosimetric performance against GK by retrospectively replanning previously-treated GK patients at our institution. METHODS: Thirteen patients, previously treated on a GK Icon, were re-planned on the AK treatment planning system using the same prescription doses and isodoses as the original GK plans. The cohort includes patients treated for brain metastases, schwannomas, pituitary adenomas, trigeminal neuralgias, and arteriovenous malformations. Plans are evaluated with target coverage metrics (Dmin , Dmean , D95% , V150% ) and dose conformality indices: Radiation Therapy Oncology Group conformity index (CI), selectivity, Paddick CI (PCI), gradient index (GI). RESULTS: AK plans use fewer shots and larger collimation compared to GK plans, resulting in statistically significant reductions in treatment time (p = 0.047) by as much as 88.4 minutes while maintaining comparable target V100% . For most metastatic cases, GK produces higher Dmin (16.0-25.9 vs. 12.5-24.3 Gy, p = 0.008) while AK produces higher V150% (0.03-14.92 vs. 0.02-11.59 cc, p = 0.028). For non-metastatic cases, GK provides superior CI (p = 0.025) and GI (p = 0.044). No statistically significant differences were found in the remaining metrics. CONCLUSION: This cohort demonstrates that the AK system is able to achieve largely comparable dosimetric results to GK, typically with shorter treatment times. Further investigation with a larger cohort is underway.

Multicenter analysis of stereotactic radiosurgery for multiple brain metastases from EGFR and ALK driven non-small cell lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with brain metastases (BrMs) arising from EGFR and ALK driven non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have favorable prognoses and evolving treatment options. We evaluated multicenter outcomes for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) to multiple (≥4) BrMs, where randomized data remain limited. METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively from 5 academic centers on EGFR and ALK NSCLC who received SRS to ≥4 BrMs with their first SRS treatment between 2008 and 2018. Analyzed endpoints included overall survival (OS), freedom from CNS progression (FFCNSP), and freedom from whole-brain radiotherapy (FFWBRT). RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients (50 EGFR, 39 ALK) received a total of 159 SRS treatments to 1,080 BrMs, with a median follow up of 51.3 months. The median number of BrMs treated with SRS treatment-1 was 6 (range 4-26) and median for all treatments was 9 (range 4-47). Sixteen patients (18 %) had received WBRT prior to SRS treatment-1. The median OS was 24.2, 21.2, and 33.2 months for all patients, EGFR, and ALK subsets, respectively. After multivariable adjustment, only receipt of a next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor was associated with OS (HR 0.40, p = 0.005). No differences in OS were observed based on number of BrMs treated. The median FFCNSP was 9.4, 11.6, and 7.5 months, for all patients, EGFR, and ALK subsets, respectively. After multivariable adjustment, the number of BrMs (continuous) treated during treatment-1 was the only negative prognostic factor associated with FFCNSP (HR 1.071, p = 0.045). The 5-year FFWBRT was 73.6 %. CONCLUSIONS: This multicenter analysis over a >10-year period demonstrated favorable OS, FFCNSP, and FFWBRT, in patients with EGFR and ALK driven NSCLC receiving SRS to ≥4 BrMs. These data support SRS as an option in the upfront and salvage setting for higher burden CNS disease in this population.

Transfrontal Approach to the Amygdala for Ablation With Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy: An Epilepsy Case Report.

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: Stereotactic laser amygdalohippocampotomy (SLAH) using laser interstitial thermal therapy is a minimally invasive surgery used to treat mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. It uses laser probes inserted through occipital and temporo-occipital trajectories to ablate the hippocampus and amygdala. However, these trajectories are limited in their ability to ablate the superior amygdala and entorhinal cortex (ERC). We present a trajectory through the middle frontal gyrus as an alternative to the temporo-occipital trajectory, which provides more complete ablation of the amygdala and anterior ERC through a single pass. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 70-year-old woman with seizures characterized by fear were localized to the left superomedial amygdala on intracranial electroencephalography. They developed after resection of a left temporal arteriovenous malformation and were refractory to medication. Her age and prior craniotomy made open resection less desirable. A frontal and occipital SLAH achieved Engel 1a at 1-year follow-up without decline in neuropsychological performance scores. CONCLUSION: Typical SLAH uses trajectories that have limited ability to ablate the superior and medial amygdala and ERC in a single passage. A combined approach using an occipital and frontal trajectory allows more complete ablation of the amygdala, hippocampus, and ERC.

Brain metastatic outgrowth and osimertinib resistance are potentiated by RhoA in EGFR-mutant lung cancer.

The brain is a major sanctuary site for metastatic cancer cells that evade systemic therapies. Through pre-clinical pharmacological, biological, and molecular studies, we characterize the functional link between drug resistance and central nervous system (CNS) relapse in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor- (EGFR-) mutant non-small cell lung cancer, which can progress in the brain when treated with the CNS-penetrant EGFR inhibitor osimertinib. Despite widespread osimertinib distribution in vivo, the brain microvascular tumor microenvironment (TME) is associated with the persistence of malignant cell sub-populations, which are poised to proliferate in the brain as osimertinib-resistant lesions over time. Cellular and molecular features of this poised state are regulated through a Ras homolog family member A (RhoA) and Serum Responsive Factor (SRF) gene expression program. RhoA potentiates the outgrowth of disseminated tumor cells on osimertinib treatment, preferentially in response to extracellular laminin and in the brain. Thus, we identify pre-existing and adaptive features of metastatic and drug-resistant cancer cells, which are enhanced by RhoA/SRF signaling and the brain TME during the evolution of osimertinib-resistant disease.

Stereotactic radiosurgery and local control of brain metastases from triple-negative breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an effective treatment for intracranial metastatic disease, but its role in triple-negative breast cancer requires further study. Herein, the authors report overall survival (OS) and local tumor control in a multiinstitutional cohort with triple-negative breast cancer metastases treated with SRS. METHODS: Patients treated from 2010 to 2019 at 9 institutions were included in this retrospective study if they had biopsy-proven triple-negative breast cancer with intracranial metastatic lesions treated with SRS. Patients were excluded if they had undergone prior SRS, whole-brain radiation therapy, or resection of the metastatic lesions. A retrospective chart review was conducted to determine OS, local control, and treatment efficacy. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients with 315 treated lesions were assessed. Patients had a median Karnofsky Performance Status of 80 (IQR 70-90) and age of 57 years (IQR 48-67 years). Most treated patients had 5 or fewer intracranial lesions, with 34% of patients having a single lesion. Treated lesions were small, having a median volume owf 0.11 cm3 (IQR 0.03-0.60 cm3). Patients were treated with a median margin dose of 18 Gy (IQR 18-20 Gy) to the median 71% isodose line (IQR 50%-84%). Overall, patients had a 1-year OS of 43% and 2-year OS of 20%. Most patients (88%) were followed until death, by which time local tumor progression had occurred in only 7% of cases. Furthermore, 76% of the lesions demonstrated regression. Tumor volume was correlated with local tumor progression (p = 0.012). SRS was very well tolerated, and only 3 patients (5%) developed symptomatic radiation necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: SRS is a safe and efficacious treatment for well-selected patients with triple-negative breast cancer, especially for those with a favorable performance status and small- to moderate-volume metastatic lesions.

Synchronous glioblastoma and brain metastases: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Radiosurgical treatment of brain metastases is usually performed without brain tissue confirmation. While it is extremely rare for glioblastoma to develop concurrently in patients with brain metastases, they can look radiographically similar, and recognition is important because it alters management and prognosis. The synchronous presence of brain metastases and glioblastoma has not been published to date in the literature, making this a rare illustrative case. OBSERVATIONS: A 70-year-old female had lung biopsy-proven metastatic lung adenocarcinoma and multiple brain metastases. Her treatment course included initial carboplatin, pemetrexed, and bevacizumab followed by maintenance nivolumab, and she underwent stereotactic radiosurgery to the multiple brain metastases. During interval radiological surveillance, one lesion in the right temporal lobe was noted to slowly progress associated with development of significant perilesional edema causing midline shift despite repeated stereotactic radiosurgical treatments. Biopsy of this lesion revealed glioblastoma, IDH wildtype. LESSONS: Glioblastomas and brain metastases have similar radiological features, so the possibility of incorrect diagnosis needs to be considered for all lesions with interval growth poststereotactic radiosurgery. Biopsy and/or resection/laser ablation should be considered prior to reirradiation.

Real-time PACS-integrated longitudinal brain metastasis tracking tool provides comprehensive assessment of treatment response to radiosurgery.

Background: Treatment of brain metastases can be tailored to individual lesions with treatments such as stereotactic radiosurgery. Accurate surveillance of lesions is a prerequisite but challenging in patients with multiple lesions and prior imaging studies, in a process that is laborious and time consuming. We aimed to longitudinally track several lesions using a PACS-integrated lesion tracking tool (LTT) to evaluate the efficiency of a PACS-integrated lesion tracking workflow, and characterize the prevalence of heterogenous response (HeR) to treatment after Gamma Knife (GK). Methods: We selected a group of brain metastases patients treated with GK at our institution. We used a PACS-integrated LTT to track the treatment response of each lesion after first GK intervention to maximally seven diagnostic follow-up scans. We evaluated the efficiency of this tool by comparing the number of clicks necessary to complete this task with and without the tool and examined the prevalence of HeR in treatment. Results: A cohort of eighty patients was selected and 494 lesions were measured and tracked longitudinally for a mean follow-up time of 374 days after first GK. Use of LTT significantly decreased number of necessary clicks. 81.7% of patients had HeR to treatment at the end of follow-up. The prevalence increased with increasing number of lesions. Conclusions: Lesions in a single patient often differ in their response to treatment, highlighting the importance of individual lesion size assessments for further treatment planning. PACS-integrated lesion tracking enables efficient lesion surveillance workflow and specific and objective result reports to treating clinicians.