Brain metastases are the most common intracranial malignant tumors in adults. Radiotherapy isa common treatment for brain metastases. In particular, stereotactic radiosurgery can control tumors well, and can significantly reduce the impact on cognitive function compared with whole brain radiation therapy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have less toxic side effects in the treatment of patients with advanced tumors, and show good survival advantages. This article introduces radiotherapy, immunotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors for brain metastases, discusses the mechanism of stereotactic radiosurgery combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors, and its therapeutic value and research progress in brain metastases, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the better application of stereotactic radiosurgery combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors to brain metastases.
Objective To investigate the clinical factors and dosimetric parameters associated with grade≥2 radiation pneumonitis (RP) after thoracic radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods The clinical factors and dosimetric parameters in patients with locally advanced NSCLC who received thoracic radiotherapy at West China Hospital of Sichuan University between January 2016 and January 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The potential factors associated with the occurrence of grade≥2 RP were analyzed with logistic regression analysis. Results A total of 104 patients were included, and the incidence rate of grade≥2 RP was 19.2%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the percentage of the heart volume that received more than 20 Gy (V20) [odds ratio (OR)=1.068, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.004, 1.137), P=0.036], lung mean dose (Dmean) [OR=1.003, 95%CI (1.000, 1.006), P=0.031] and superior vena cava Dmean [OR=1.001, 95%CI (1.000, 1.001), P=0.041] were associated with grade≥2 RP. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve combined with heart V20, lung Dmean and superior vena cava Dmean to predict grade≥2 RP was 0.839 [95%CI (0.752, 0.926)]. In addition, the optimal critical values for heart V20, lung Dmean and superior vena cava Dmean to predict grade≥2 RP were 20%, 13 Gy and 38 Gy, respectively. Conclusions Heart V20, lung Dmean and superior vena cava Dmean are associated with grade≥2 RP after thoracic radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced NSCLC. In addition, taking heart V20<20%, lung Dmean<13 Gy and superior vena cava Dmean<38 Gy as normal organ dose limits may reduce the risk of grade≥2 RP after thoracic radiotherapy for locally advanced NSCLC patients.
Objective To analyze the efficacy of and recurrence mode after adjuvant radiotherapy for lower thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (TESCC) patients after radical operation with anastomosis above aortic arch. Methods Sixty-three patients with lower TESCC who received adjuvant radiotherapy after R0 radical operation with anastomosis above aortic arch between February 2011 and February 2019 were retrospectively enrolled. The clinical tumor volume (CTV) included anastomotic stoma, and lymph node drainage area in mediastinum and upper abdomen. The survival status, recurrence and metastasis of tumors, and the influencing factors were analyzed. Results The 1-, 2-, and 3-year overall survival rates were 98.3%, 83.3%, and 63.7%, respectively. The median disease-free survival (DFS) was 33 months [95% confidence interval (23.2, 42.8) months], and the 1-, 2-, and 3-year DFS rates were 76.3%, 58.5%, and 41.7%, respectively. Patients with N0-1 had longer DFS than those with N2-3 (median: not reached vs. 15 months, P=0.045). The recurrence rate of anastomotic site was 7.9%. The recurrence rates of lymph nodes in supraclavicular region, upper middle mediastinum, and upper abdomen were 4.8%, 15.9%, and 1.6%, respectively. The distant metastasis rate was 17.5%. The incidence of grade 2-3 radiation pneumonitis, grade 3 anastomotic stenosis, and grade 3 tracheal fistula were 4.8%, 3.2%, and 1.6%, respectively. Conclusions N2-3 is a poor prognostic factor for such patients. Regional lymph node recurrence is mainly revealed in the middle and upper mediastinum. Whether the CTV should include anastomotic stoma and lymph node drainage area in lower mediastinum and upper abdomen is questionable.