DIFFERENT PALLIATIVE CRANIAL RADIOTHERAPY REGIMES ON LUNG CANCER PATIENTS WITH BRAIN METASTASES AND PROGNOSTIC FACTORS

A randomized study has been started for determination of suitable palliative cranial radiation regime on lung cancer patients with brain metastases or brain and the other distant sistemic metastases. Forty-five patients have been randomized to three different palliative cranial irradiation regimes, Group A patients received 30 Gy/10 fr/2 weeks, Group B patients received 20 Gy/5 fr/1 week, and Group C patients received 40 Gy/15 fr/3 weeks. After palliative radiation therapy, regression and stabilization of metastases have been observed in %71 patients. One year survival of whole group was %18 and median survival was 6 months. Among the groups, there were not statistically significant differences for local control rate and survival parameters (P=0.64, P=0.441). However better local control has been observed for group C (P=0.08). Among the prognostic factors, LDH level and neurologic functional status levels of the patients have been correlated with survival, but histology of primary tumor, single or multiple brain metastases, the presence of other sistemic distant metastases, discovery of metastases at diagnosis or follow-up periods and different palliative cranial regimes were not correlated with survival.