Integration of stereotactic radiosurgery or whole brain radiation therapy with immunotherapy for treatment of brain metastases.

ABSTRACT: The prognosis of brain metastases (BM) is traditionally poor. BM are mainly treated by local radiotherapy, including stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT). Recently, immunotherapy (i.e., immune checkpoint inhibitors, ICI) has demonstrated a survival advantage in multiple malignancies commonly associated with BM. Individually, radiotherapy and ICI both treat BM efficiently; hence, their combination seems logical. In this review, we summarize the existing preclinical and clinical evidence that supports the applicability of radiotherapy as a sensitizer of ICI for BM. Further, we discuss the optimal timing at which radiotherapy and ICI should be administered and review the safety of the combination therapy. Data from a few clinical studies suggest that combini

SUBMITTER: Su Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7491544 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature