Presurgical Radiation Therapy May Offer Alternative Approach to Treating Brain Metastases

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Many patients with brain metastases receive stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT) – a targeted high dose of radiation – after surgery to remove the metastases. Studies have suggested that pre-surgical SRT may be comparable to standard post-surgical SRT, but little is known about both methods from clinical trials. To address this, researchers led by Debra Nana Yeboa, M.D., conducted a Phase III clinical trial examining the logistics and short-term safety of both pre- and post-surgical SRT in 103 patients with resectable brain metastases. Compared to post-surgical SRT, preliminary results show that pre-surgical SRT resulted in similar 30-day post-surgical toxicity outcomes with potentially shorter time between surgery and radiation. These findings suggest that giving SRT before surgery is a promising, potentially safe strategy for patients with brain metastases. Learn more in JAMA Oncology.

"This study is a preliminary evaluation of the logistics of both therapies for patients with brain metastases and, impressively, represents a collaborative effort across multiple disciplines at MD Anderson," said Yeboa.