Are there still indications for whole brain irradiation in 2021?

The management of brain metastases (BM) is very complex. The performance status of the patient, local and distant control of the primary tumor and comorbidities have to be taken into account. Most frequently BMs are diagnosed in patients with lung cancer (20–56% of all BMs), breast cancer (5–20%) and melanoma (7–16%) accounting for 70–80% of all brain metastases [9‐11].

Based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the standard diagnostic tool, the number of newly diagnosed symptomatic and asymptomatic BMs continues to increase. Historically, all patients with multiple BMs were treated with whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT). The goal of WBRT was symptom reduction and palliation, to stop brain metastases progression and possibly to prolong overall survival (OS). However, neurocognitive functional decline has been reported in 31–57% of the patients at 3 months and 48–89% at 1 year after WBRT [1].

In order to maintain neurocognitive function, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery (fSRS) have been implemented in the treatment of patients in recent years. This was not only performed in patients with a single metastasis, but also in patients with brain oligometastases, despite the higher risk of new intracranial relapses. Modern treatment techniques such as volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) allow for WBRT with hippocampal-avoidance and dose-escalation with oligometastases [12, 14, 15]. In a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trial (RTOG 0614), the use of memantine, a neuroprotective compound, during and after WBRT has resulted in better cognitive function over time [24].

Traditional chemotherapy has played a limited role in the management of BM. However, recent advances in targeted therapy and checkpoint inhibitors have improved survival in patients with BM. Modern systemic treatments as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) and immunotherapies can cross the blood–brain barrier and have improved the results of systemic treatment in patients with asymptomatic disease [7].

In the modern era, therefore, a personalized treatment decision for patients with BMs has to be performed. To choose an adequate treatment, scores such as the graded prognostic assessment (GPA score) and the recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) including prognostic factors as histology of the primary tumor, the target mutation status, age of the patient, Karnofsky performance score (KPS), number and volume of the metastases with or without neurological symptoms, and the extra cranial tumor extension and activity are required [23].

WBRT was the standard treatment for most patients with BM. Today WBRT is indicated for patients with poor prognosis if BM are unsuitable for radiosurgery or surgery. According to the European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO) guidelines on brain metastases from solid tumors, WBRT in combination with corticosteroids is recommended in patients with (a) multiple brain metastases or presenting with (b) uncontrolled primary tumor or (c) multiple extracerebral metastases, if they are symptomatic [7]. Upfront WBRT remains a standard approach for patients with multiple brain metastases even though the Quality of Life after Treatment for Brain Metastases (QUARTZ) trial cannot assert the advantage of WBRT plus best supportive care compared with best supportive care alone in patients [19].

Median survival following WBRT alone ranges from 3 to 6 months, with 10–15% of patients alive at 1 year [8]. Various fractionation schedules may be used (30 Gy in 10 daily fractions, 20 Gy in 4 or 5 daily fractions, or others). None has proven superiority in terms of prolonging OS or better neurologic function or symptom control described in a meta-analysis of 39 trials by Tsao et al. [25].

Salvage WBRT can be an option in patients with favorable prognostic factors and recurrence of multiple new brain metastases relatively long time after SRS, who are not suitable for new SRS. No prospective studies are available, but salvage SRS after WBRT has been widely performed.

WBRT leads to an improved outcome in patients with single metastases, including improved overall survival, less development of new brain relapses and longer duration of functional independence [3‐5]. Patients with brain oligometastases (1–4 metastases) showed no improvement with combined treatment of WBRT and SRS. Studies compared WBRT plus SRS with SRS alone [6]. Overall survival after combined treatment did not differ from SRS alone, only the distant brain metastases were more frequent in patients treated with SRS alone. Adjuvant WBRT following surgery increases local control and reduces distant relapses in patients with brain metastases > 3 cm. Regardless which kind of combination is performed WBRT increases the risk of neurocognitive decline, transient lower physical functioning and more fatigue. Based on these results, the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) does not recommend a combination of SRS and WBRT routinely in patients with limited BMs, but to perform frequent MRI surveillance.

Palliative indications for WBRT are leptomeningeal carcinomatoses (LC) with multifocal spread of tumor cells and/or cerebrospinal fluid (EANO-ESMO guidelines) and eventually concomitant cerebral lesions. The incidence is approximately 5–10% of patients presenting with metastatic disease [17, 18]. In these patients WBRT can delay neurologic deterioration without an increase in OS.

Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is still the gold standard for patients with limited tumor progression or with very good treatment response and stable extracranial disease after chemotherapy. Auperin et al. in 1999 performed a meta-analysis of 7 studies comprising 987 patients. They found that PCI showed an improvement in the 3‑year OS of 5.4% (15.3% to 20.7%) [22]. The results of this meta-analysis could not be confirmed in a prospective MRI-based phase III study by Takahashi et al. [16]. New treatment concepts are under evaluation recommending close monitoring by MRI controls in compliant patients and local SRS in case of single or oligometastases.

Staging of the brain at the time of diagnosis is the gold standard for patients with solid tumors. Many clinically asymptomatic patients may have BMs detected by MRI. According to the recommendations of the EANO Guidelines [7], conventional chemotherapy may be the initial treatment for patients with BM from chemosensitive tumors like SCLC and breast cancer. Patients with brain metastases from NSCLC harboring activating EGFR mutations or ALK rearrangement can benefit from specific TKIs or patients with HER2-positive breast cancer can benefit from lapatinib alone or in combination with capecitabine. A benefit of ipilimumab or BRAF inhibitors on BM of melanomas has been frequently reported in the literature.

The response rate to targeted therapies and immunotherapies seems to be higher than those observed after chemotherapy. Currently new generations of small molecule inhibitors are under evaluation. In case of good response of asymptomatic BMs WBRT or SRS can be postponed or completely avoided. Prerequisite for this procedure is close MRI monitoring to detect growing BMs as soon as possible.

Systemic targeted therapies have become a more important part of BM treatment especially in patients with asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic disease.

Radiotherapy still plays a major role, as the activity of systemic chemotherapy within brain parenchyma remains limited [2]. WBRT does not prevent the development of new BMs and has a limited influence on overall survival. It can lead to decline of neurocognitive function and quality of life. Therefore, new local treatment options as SRS and fSRS have replaced WBRT in single and oligometastases. Only in case of multiple BMs unsuitable for SRS or surgery and in patients with poor prognosis, is WBRT the treatment of choice. New medical therapies passing the blood–brain barrier (BBB) may allow to postpone WBRT in asymptomatic patients and may inhibit the neurocognitive decline and maintain the quality-of-life.