title: A randomised phase III study of palliative radiation with concomitant carboplatin for brain metastases from non-small cell carcinoma of the lung.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if the addition of carboplatin chemotherapy to whole brain irradiation improves response and survival in patients with brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two patients with brain metastases from NSCLC and performance status ECOG 0-2 were randomised to receive either whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) alone (20Gy in five fractions) or the same radiotherapy plus concomitant carboplatin (70 mg/m(2) intravenously for 5 days).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median survival was 4.4 months in the radiotherapy alone (RT) arm and 3.7 months in the combined treatment (RTC) arm (P = 0.64). The objective response rates of 10% on the RT arm and 29% on the RTC arm were not significantly different (P = 0.24). The trial was closed early because of poor accrual.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although no firm conclusions can be made regarding the efficacy of the combined treatment, this prospective study highlights the poor objective response rates and relatively poor symptom control despite standard treatment of brain metastases from NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiation Oncology, Besen Family Department of Radiation, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, St. Andrews Place, Locked Bag 1, A'Beckett Street, East Melbourne, Victoria 8006, Australia.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guerrieri
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Millward
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Quong
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Ball
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000556:secondary*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016371:Cranial Irradiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016190:Carboplatin