Published papers

© 2019 The Author(s) Purpose: The role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) alone for patients with ≥5 brain metastases is not fully understood. The objective of the study was to compare SRS-alone treatment results for 2 to 4 versus 5 to 15 tumors. Methods and Materials: This was an institutional review board–approved, retrospective cohort study using our prospectively accumulated database including 1150 patients with 2 to 4 tumors and 939 with 5 to 15 tumors who underwent Gamma Knife SRS during a 20-year period (1998-2018). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to determine post-SRS survival times, and competing risk analyses were applied to estimate cumulative incidences of the secondary endpoints. Results: The post-SRS median survival time was slightly longer in the group with 2 to 4 tumors (8.1 months) than in that with 5 to 15 tumors (7.2 months, P =.0010). Median survival time differences were statistically significant for non-small cell lung cancer, gastrointestinal tract cancer, and others but not for small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, and kidney cancer. Multivariable analysis demonstrated female sex, better Karnofsky Performance Status score, non-small cell lung cancer (vs gastrointestinal tract cancer), younger age, controlled primary cancer, and no extracerebral metastases to be significant predictors of a longer survival period in both tumor number groups. Crude and cumulative incidences of salvage whole brain radiation therapy were significantly higher in the group with 5 to 15 tumors than in that with 2 to 4 tumors, although those of other secondary endpoints were similar to or lower in the 5 to 15 tumor number group than those in the group with 2 to 4 tumors. Conclusions: We conclude that carefully selected patients with ≥5 to 15 tumors are not unfavorable candidates for SRS alone.

Objective A randomized controlled trial has shown the efficacy of thalidomide against Polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein, and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome; however, there are still refractory patients. We studied the effects of lenalidomide, a derivative of thalidomide, on patients refractory to thalidomide. Methods This prospective single-arm trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of lenalidomide plus dexamethasone in refractory or recurrent patients with POEMS syndrome. The regimen was administered as six 28-day cycles with lenalidomide on days 1-21 (15 mg in cycle 1, and 25 mg in cycle 2-6) plus dexamethasone once a week (20 mg). The primary endpoints were the rate of reduction in the serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level at 24 weeks and the incidence of adverse events. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrial.gov, NCT02193698. Results Between July 2014 and December 2015, five men were enrolled. All patients had been refractory to thalidomide plus dexamethasone for more than 24 weeks. The mean rate of reduction in the serum VEGF level at 24 weeks was 59.6%±8.3% (p=0.0003). The mean serum VEGF level decreased from 2,466±771 pg/mL to 974±340 pg/mL. No serious adverse events were observed, and all patients completed six cycles treatment. Discussion Lenalidomide is a therapeutic option for thalidomide-refractory patients with POEMS syndrome.