title: The management of brain metastases in non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: Brain metastases (BM) are a common and lethal complication of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which portend a poor prognosis. In addition, their management implies several challenges including preservation of neurological and neurocognitive function during surgery or radiation-therapy, minimizing iatrogenic complications of supportive medications, and optimizing drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier. Despite these challenges, advancements in combined modality approaches can deliver hope of improved overall survival and quality of life for a subset of NSCLC patients with BM. Moreover, new drugs harnessing our greater understanding of tumor biology promise to build on this hope. In this mini-review, we revised the management of BM in NSCLC including advancements in neurosurgery, radiation therapy, as well as systemic and supportive therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, McGill University Health Centre , Montreal, QC , Canada.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, McGill University Health Centre , Montreal, QC , Canada.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Souhami
keywords: brain metastases; chemotherapy; lung cancer; radiation therapy; stereotactic radiosurgery; surgery; targeted therapy