The combination of two types of radiotherapy improves the outlook for some patients with brain cancer.

Up to one third of all people with breast and lung cancer have spread of their disease to the brain. Once this has happened, treatment becomes very difficult and the person generally only survives for a few months. What is more, their quality of life may be much impaired by neurological problems.

Chemotherapy does not work well in this situation, but researchers at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, have been looking at adapting the standard radiotherapy treatment. Usually whole brain irradiation id given for two or three weeks and this does improve neurological functioning. The researchers found that adding so-called stereotactic radiosurgery to this caused further improvements. This technique is used in the treatment of benign tumours, and involves directing radiation at specific brain areas.

In this study, those on the combined treatment also survived for a month or two longer than those given whole brain radiotherapy alone. The aim now is to continue the research to see if further improvements in survival are possible by adapting the treatment.

Source

American Radiology and Oncology Annual Meeting 7th October 2002