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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Gynecologic Cancer
Published on: April 17, 2012
Stereotactic radiosurgery as a therapeutic strategy for intracranial metastatic prostate carcinoma
Thomas Flannery1, Hideyuki Kano, Ajay Niranjan
1Departments of Neurological Surgery and Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, UPMC Presbyterian, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Abstract:
Intracranial metastatic prostate carcinoma is rare. We sought to determine the clinical outcomes after Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery (GKSRS) for patients with intracranial prostate carcinoma metastases. We studied data from 10 patients who underwent radiosurgery for 15 intracranial metastases (9 dural-based and 6 parenchymal). Six patients had radiosurgery for solitary tumors and four had multiple tumors. The primary pathology was adenocarcinoma (eight patients) and small cell carcinoma (two patients). All patients received multimodality management for their primary tumor (including resection, radiation therapy, androgen deprivation therapy) and eight patients had evidence of systemic disease at time of radiosurgery. The mean tumor volume was 7.7 cm(3) (range 1.1-17.2 cm(3)) and a median margin dose of 16 Gy was administered. Two patients had progressive intracranial disease in spite of fractionated partial brain radiation therapy (PBRT) prior to SRS. A local tumor control rate of 85% was achieved (including patients receiving boost, upfront and salvage SRS). New remote brain metastases developed in three patients (33%) and one patient had repeat SRS for tumor recurrence. The median survival after radiosurgery was 13 months and the 1-year survival rate was 60%. SRS was a well tolerated and effective therapy either alone or as a boost to fractionated radiation therapy in the management of patients with intracranial prostate carcinoma metastases.
Insights
Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery (GKSRS) effectively controls intracranial prostate cancer metastases, offering a median survival of 13 months. This treatment is well-tolerated for brain metastases from prostate cancer.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Radiation Oncology
- Urologic Oncology
Background:
- Intracranial metastatic prostate carcinoma is a rare but serious complication.
- Limited data exists on the efficacy of stereotactic radiosurgery for these metastases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate clinical outcomes of Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery (GKSRS) for intracranial prostate carcinoma metastases.
- To assess local tumor control, survival, and toxicity of GKSRS in this patient population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 10 patients with 15 intracranial prostate cancer metastases treated with GKSRS.
- Tumor characteristics, treatment dose (median 16 Gy), and patient outcomes were recorded.
- Patients received multimodality treatment, including prior therapies for primary prostate cancer.
Main Results:
- 85% local tumor control rate achieved after GKSRS.
- Median survival post-radiosurgery was 13 months, with a 1-year survival rate of 60%.
- New remote brain metastases occurred in 33% of patients; one required repeat SRS.
Conclusions:
- GKSRS is a well-tolerated and effective treatment for intracranial prostate cancer metastases.
- It can be used alone or as a boost to fractionated radiation therapy.
- GKSRS improves local control and survival for patients with brain metastases from prostate cancer.

