Palliation of brain metastases in a favorable patient population: a randomized clinical trial by the radiation therapy oncology group

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3016(81)90005-5· OSTI ID:6199910

Kurtz, J M ^[1]; Gelber, R; Brady, L W; Carella, R J; Cooper, J S

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1. University Hospital, Seattle, WA

The palliative effectiveness of a short, intensive course of brain irradiation (3000 rad in 2 weeks) was compared to that of a high-dose course (5000 rad in 4 weeks) in a randomized RTOG clinical trial. Eighty percent of the 255 evaluable patients had lung primaries, 7% breast, and 13% other or unknown primaries. Patients with evidence of extra-cranial metastases, uncontrolled primaries, or Class IV Neurologic Function (NFIV) were excluded. Forty-one percent of NFII and 71% of NFIII patients improved in neurologic function class. For NFII patients, a significantly greater improvement rate was obtained with the short course than with the long course. Otherwise there were no significant differences between the two regimens with respect to palliation of symptoms, improvement rate, median time to progression, cause of death, or median survival. We conclude that 3000 rad in two weeks is at least as effective as 5000 rad in four weeks in the palliation of brain metastases, even in this relatively favorable patient population.

• OSTI ID: 6199910
• Journal Information: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 7:7; ISSN IOBPD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
FRACTIONATED IRRADIATION
IRRADIATION
MEDICINE
METASTASES
NAUSEA
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
PATIENTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
SIDE EFFECTS
SYMPTOMS
THERAPY