Warrenville:A study presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) conference suggests lung cancer patients with brain metastases may benefit from targeted radiation treatment instead of whole-brain radiation.
According to Qatar News Agency, the research, led by Dr. Vinai Gondi from the Northwestern Medicine Proton Center in Warrenville, Illinois, explored the effectiveness of stereotactic radiosurgery, which delivers high doses of radiation to brain tumors while sparing surrounding tissue. Though the study did not aim to establish extended survival, it marks progress in treatment strategies.
Involving 151 patients, the study compared stereotactic radiosurgery with modern whole-brain radiation therapy. The median survival was 17 months for those treated with stereotactic radiosurgery, compared to nine months for those receiving whole-brain radiation.
Dr. Gondi noted that patients with small-cell lung cancer now have two evidence-supported modern radiation options, aiding clinicians in treatment decisions. The study primarily focused on the duration before patients experienced cognitive decline after each treatment.