Radiation therapy for brain metastasis from lung cancer

The prognosis for patients with brain metastasis from lung cancer following radiation therapy was evaluated. Seventy-eight patients received brain irradiation in the Osaka Prefectural Habikino Hospital between April 1985 and March 1989. Almost all patients had conventional radiotherapy of the whole brain, with a single dose of 2 or 3 Gy. Patients characteristics associated with favorable prognosis were as follows: Performance status of 0∼1, age≤49, female, histology of adenocarcinoma. Patients who received radiotherapy of 56 Gy10 or more, had longer survival time. The findings in the brain CT were evaluated, but the number, size, site of metastases, and mass effect to ventricular system were not related to the prognosis. The overall median survival was 3.5 months and the 1-year survival rate was 9.0%. Further clinical studies are necessary to improve the prognosis in brain metastases. (author)