title: Management of brain metastasized non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) - From local treatment to new systemic therapies.
abstract: Lung cancer has the highest frequency of brain dissemination compared to all other solid tumours. Classical treatment options such as brain irradiation have started to be questioned due to lack of survival benefit and risk for severe side effects. Oncogenic driven tumours have the highest frequency of brain dissemination among NSCLC patients and available targeted therapies have shown activity both intra-and extracranially, with an acceptable toxicity profile. The recent approval of immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of NSCLC has complicated treatment selection even more. Data regarding efficacy of immune therapy in the CNS are limited, though promising, and data from larger cohorts are eagerly expected. The purpose of this review is to summarize all available treatment options for brain metastatic NSCLC with an emphasis on oncogenic driven tumours. Treatment selection for brain metastasized NSCLC patients is challenging because of the detrimental effect of potential treatment related CNS side effects in patients' quality of life. Clinical decision making should be done in an individualised way, taking both clinical and molecular factors into consideration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: georgios.tsakonas@ki.se.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tsakonas
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Petris
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ekman
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D009154:Mutation; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors
keywords: Brain metastases; Brain radiotherapy; Non-small cell lung cancer; Objective response rate; Overall survival; Tyrosine kinase inhibitors