Whole Brain Radiotherapy Plus Conventional Boost in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with Brain Metastasis: A Retrospective Analysis of Overall Survival

AIM To evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with brain metastasis, who were treated by whole brain radiotherapy with a conventional boost at a single institution. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 296 patients diagnosed with NSCLC with brain metastasis and referred to our clinic for radiotherapy between 2000 and 2017 were included in this retrospective study. RESULTS The median age was 60.8 ± 12.1 years, with a range of 21-85 years. The estimated median survival time for all patients was 7.81 ± 0.66 months (95% CI: 6.52-9.11). The one-year survival, two-year survival and three-year survival rates were 18.8%, 5.8% and 2.9%, respectively. The median survival of patients with solitary brain metastasis who received 45 Gy radiotherapy was 14.70 ± 2.80 months (95% CI: 9.20-20.20). These patients had 6 and 12 months survival rates of 65.4% and 42.6%, respectively. The median survival time of patients with solitary brain metastasis who received > 45 Gy radiotherapywas 13.86 ± 2.56 months (95% CI: 8.08-18.02). These patients had 6 and 12 months survival rates of 66.2% and 27.2%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.321). The median survival duration of patients under 65 years was 9.65 ± 1.02 months. The median survival time of patients aged 65 years and overwas 5.15 ± 0.51 months. There was a statistically significant difference in the median survival rates between the groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Patients with solitary metastasis or single metastases tolerated whole brain radiotherapy with a conventional boost. Although the overall survival rates were numerically better in the high dose RT group, the difference was not statistically significant. Prospective studies with a larger sample size are needed to consolidate our results.