Copenhagen, Denmark
Onsite/Online

ESTRO 2022

Session Item

Monday
May 09
09:00 - 10:00
Mini-Oral Theatre 2
18: CNS
Barbara Diletto, Italy;
Ghaiet El Fida Noubbigh, Tunisia
3150
Mini-Oral
Clinical
Impact of irradiation of the neurogenic niches on survival in patients with brain metastases
Fia Cialdella, The Netherlands
MO-0724

Abstract

Impact of irradiation of the neurogenic niches on survival in patients with brain metastases
Authors:

Fia Cialdella1, Szabolcs David1, Danique E. Bruil1, Steven H.J Nagtegaal2, Arthur T. van der Boog1, Sophietje de Sonnaville3, F.Y.F. de Vos4, Joost J.C. Verhoeff1

1University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Radiation Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands; 2Erasmus Medical Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; 3University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Neurosurgery, Utrecht, The Netherlands; 4University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Medical Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands

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Purpose or Objective

BACKGROUND: Neural stem cells (NSCs) are involved in the brain's ability to regenerate and are located in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and subgranular zone (SGZ) of the hippocampus (HPC), known as the primary neurogenic niches of the brain. It is believed that irradiating these areas inhibits the repair capacity of the brain. Indeed, it has recently been shown in glioma patients that increased radiation dose on the neurogenic niches decreases OS. In this study, we investigate the effects of radiation dose in neurogenic niches on OS in a cohort of patients with brain metastases.

 

Material and Methods

We  included 262 patients with brain metastases from various primary tumors, who underwent radiotherapy at UMC Utrecht between November 2014 and July 2020. NSC-regions were automatically delineated on T1 MR images using CAT12. OS was analyzed using univariable and multivariable Cox regression, corrected for covariates: age, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), number of metastases and the use of chemotherapy or immunotherapy (see table 1). 

Results

All patients received any radiotherapy in neurogenic niches (SVZ: 0.02Gy-46.75Gy EQD2, HPC: 0.02Gy-42,04Gy EQD2). In univariable analyses, the hazard ratio (HR) was 1.035 per Gy (P = 0.025 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.008 – 1.062]) for the mean dose in the SVZ, and 1.014 per Gy (P = 0.258 [95% CI, 0.990 – 1.038]) for the mean HPC dose. Multivariable analyses showed only statistically significant HRs for KPS and administration of immunotherapy.

VariableHazard ratio (HR)95%-Confidence interval (CI)P-value
Age1.015
0.999 – 1.031
0.063
Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS)
0.975
0.965 – 0.984
<0.001
Number of mets >4 vs. 1- 3 
0..9410.602 – 1.470
0.788
Administration of chemotherapy Yes vs. No
1.1670.851 – 1.600
0.338
Administration of immunotherapy Yes vs. No
0.555
0.409 – 0.753
<0.001
RT dose on hippocampus in Gy1.020
0.989 – 1.052
0.220
RT dose on SVZ in Gy
1.0200.988 – 1.053
0.220


Conclusion

In this study, we showed that irradiation of the SVZ or HPC is not correlated with OS in patients with brain metastases after correcting for covariates. We confirmed the prognostic value of KPS and immunotherapy in OS in patients with brain metastases. In contrast to glioma, this suggest that there is no role for neurogenic niches avoidance in stereotactic irradiation of brain metastases regarding OS