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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
Modeling Brain Metastasis by Internal Carotid Artery Injection of Cancer Cells
Published on: August 2, 2022
Multimodality management of non-small cell lung cancer patients with brain metastases
Serena Ricciardi1, Filippo de Marinis
1Thoracic-Oncology Unit 1st, Lung Diseases Department, San Camillo-Forlanini High Specialization Hospitals, Rome, Italy. sricciardi@interfree.it
Purpose Of Review:
Brain metastases are an important cause of morbidity and mortality, and are the most common intracranial tumors in adults. The prognosis of patients with brain metastases is very poor. The increasing incidence of brain metastases is directly related to the improvements in the treatment of systemic disease. Commonly, brain metastases are discovered after the diagnosis of cancer, often after other systemic metastases have developed. In this review article, we present the standard treatment approach and discuss new directions.
Recent Findings:
The most widely used treatment for patients with brain metastases is whole-brain radiotherapy. Actually, surgery and radiotherapy remain the principal therapeutic interventions. In contrast, the benefit of chemotherapy has long been viewed with skepticism.In an effort to improve the therapeutic ratio, radiosensitizers are often used concurrently with external-beam radiation: motexafin gadolinium and efaproxaril.Novel anticancer agents are under clinical investigation.
Summary:
The management of patients with brain metastases with non-small cell lung cancer has improved over time, due to the development of new treatment options and a better knowledge of prognostic factors.In the next 5 years, the results of several ongoing multicenter randomized trials will become available to further define the role of various radiation sensitizers and chemotherapeutic agents in combination with stereotactic radiosurgery, whole-brain radiation therapy, or both.
Insights
Brain metastases, common in adults, have a poor prognosis. Standard treatments include surgery and radiotherapy, with new agents and trials exploring improved outcomes for brain tumor patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Cancer Metastasis
- Radiation Oncology
Background:
- Brain metastases are the most common intracranial tumors in adults, significantly contributing to morbidity and mortality.
- Their incidence is rising due to improved systemic cancer treatment, often diagnosed after other metastases develop.
- Prognosis for patients with brain metastases remains poor.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the standard treatment approaches for brain metastases.
- To discuss emerging therapeutic strategies and future directions in managing intracranial tumors.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on brain metastases management.
- Analysis of standard treatments like whole-brain radiotherapy and surgery.
- Discussion of novel agents and ongoing clinical trials.
Main Results:
- Whole-brain radiotherapy, surgery, and radiation are principal interventions.
- Chemotherapy's benefit has been historically viewed skeptically.
- Radiosensitizers (motexafin gadolinium, efaproxaril) are used with radiation; novel agents are under investigation.
Conclusions:
- Management of non-small cell lung cancer brain metastases has improved with new options and prognostic knowledge.
- Future trials will define roles for radiation sensitizers and chemotherapy with radiosurgery and whole-brain radiation therapy.
