Hypofractionated whole-brain radiotherapy for multiple brain metastases from transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.
OBJECTIVE
Brain metastases in bladder cancer patients are extremely rare. Most patients with multiple lesions receive longer-course whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) with 10 × 3 Gy/2 weeks or 20 × 2 Gy/4 weeks. Because its radiosensitivity is relatively low, metastases from bladder cancer may be treated better with hypofractionated radiotherapy. This study compared short-course hypofractionated WBRT (5 × 4 Gy/1 week) to longer-course WBRT.


METHODS
Data for 33 patients receiving WBRT alone for multiple brain metastases from transitional cell bladder carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed. Short-course WBRT with 5 × 4 Gy (n = 12 patients) was compared to longer-course WBRT with 10 × 3 Gy/20 × 2 Gy (n = 21 patients) for overall survival (OS) and local (intracerebral) control (LC). Five additional potential prognostic factors were investigated: age, gender, Karnofsky performance score (KPS), number of brain metastases, and extracranial metastases. The Bonferroni correction for multiple tests was used to adjust the p values derived from the multivariate analysis. p values of <0.025 were considered significant.


RESULTS
At 6 months, OS was 42% after 5 × 4 Gy and 24% after 10 × 3/20 × 2 Gy (p = 0.31). On univariate analysis, improved OS was associated with less than four brain metastases (p = 0.021) and almost associated with a lack of extracranial metastases (p = 0.057). On multivariate analysis, both factors were not significant. At 6 months, LC was 83% after 5 × 4 Gy and 27% after 10 × 3/20 × 2 Gy (p = 0.035). Improved LC was almost associated with a KPS of ≥70 (p = 0.051). On multivariate analysis, WBRT regimen was almost significant (p = 0.036). KPS showed a trend (p = 0.07).


CONCLUSIONS
Short-course WBRT with 5 × 4 Gy should be seriously considered for most patients with multiple brain metastases from bladder cancer, as it resulted in improved LC.
Rades
Dirk
D
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Lubeck, Germany. Rades.Dirk@gmx.net
Meyners
Thekla
T
Veninga
Theo
T
Stalpers
Lukas J A
LJ
Schild
Steven E
SE
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary; D016371:Cranial Irradiation / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms