Resection versus radiosurgery for patients with brain metastases. Future Oncol 2007 Feb;3(1):95-102
Date
02/07/2007Pubmed ID
17280506DOI
10.2217/14796694.3.1.95Scopus ID
2-s2.0-33847072268 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 14 CitationsAbstract
Brain metastases occur in 20-40% of adult cancer patients and the incidence is apparently increasing. Despite advances in treatment, the prognosis of these patients is poor, with a median survival of approximately 4 months. Whole brain radiation therapy is the standard of care for most patients with brain metastases. Randomized trials have demonstrated that focal treatments, such as resection and radiosurgery, yield significant improvement in the survival of patients with a single metastasis. The utility of these strategies, specifically in terms of increased survival, is unclear in patients with more than one metastasis. In addition to focal treatments, future directions in the treatment of brain metastases include the development of intraoperative imaging capabilities, improved methods of identifying patients who are likely to benefit from treatment, systemic agents, such as chemotherapy and radiosensitizers, and the incorporation of targeted and antiangiogenic therapies.
Author List
Siker ML, Mehta MPAuthor
Malika L. Siker MD Associate Dean, Associate Professor in the Radiation Oncology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultBrain Neoplasms
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Neoplasm Metastasis
Radiosurgery
