Management of complications from brain metastasis treatment: a narrative review

Abstract

Objective: To describe the range of potential side effects associated with modern brain metastasis treatment and provide evidenced-based guidance on the effective management of these side effects.Background: Brain metastases are the most commonly diagnosed malignant intracranial tumor and have historically been associated with very poor prognosis. The standard treatment for brain metastases until the 1990s was whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) alone. Since then, however, numerous advances have established the role of neurosurgical resection, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), targeted systemic therapy, and immunotherapy in the multidisciplinary management of brain metastases and led to improvements in intracranial control, survival, and neurocognitive preservation among patients with brain metastases. As a result, however, brain metastasis treatment is associated with a wider range of potential side effects than ever before, and clinicians are tasked with the challenge of effectively managing these side effects without compromising cancer outcomes.Methods: We performed a narrative review of peer-reviewed articles related to the management of side effects from multidisciplinary brain metastasis treatment and synthesized the data in the context of our clinical experience and practice. Conclusions:In this review, we summarize the major complications from intracranial radiotherapy, neurosurgical resection, and brain metastasis directed systemic therapy with corresponding evidenced-based, modern management principles to guide the practicing oncologist.

HER2-Positive Gastroesophageal Cancers Are Associated with a Higher Risk of Brain Metastasis

“…Local treatments, such as surgical resection and radiotherapy, provide survival benefit for patients [ 13 , 14 ]. However, the neurological complications associated with intracranial malignancy and associated treatments negatively impact patients’ quality of life such as fatigue, headaches, neurocognitive decline, and focal neurology [ 15 , 16 ]. Early detection and treatment of intracranial disease result in improved post-intervention status [ 17 ].…”

Advances in the Management of Central Nervous System Metastases from Breast Cancer

“…One of the first treatments for BM was whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT). Other important local therapy options available today include stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and neurosurgical resection [ 13 ]. Surgical resection followed by radiotherapy (RT) could be curative for a small, solitary BM [ 14 ].…”

“…However, the current treatment options for patients with extracranial disease and/or multiple BM remain mainly palliative [ 6 ]. Most recently, targeted systemic therapies and immunotherapy appeared in the multidisciplinary management of BM, leading to an improvement in intracranial control, survival, and neurocognitive preservation among these patients [ 13 ].…”