A pilot study of concurrent whole-brain radiotherapy and chemotherapy combined with cisplatin, vindesine and mitomycin in non-small-cell lung cancer with brain metastasis

We have evaluated the feasibility, toxicity, and tumour response of concurrent whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and chemotherapy with cisplatin, vindesine and mitomycin in the treatment of 33 patients with brain metastasis from non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The imaging response demonstrated that 25 patients (75.8%) responded to brain lesions, including five complete responders, and the response rate to primary lesion was 18%. The treatment improved at least one grade of performance status in 30% and of neurological functions in 55% of the patients. The major toxicity was leucopenia (> or = grade 3, 84.4%). Median survival was 9.7 months and the 1-year survival rate was 40%. Concurrent WBRT and chemotherapy can be safely administered to patients with brain metastasis from NSCLC, with a remarkable response rate, improvement of neurological functions and encouraging survival duration.