Stereotactic ablative radiation therapy for brain metastases with volumetric modulated arc therapy and flattening filter free delivery: feasibility and early clinical results.

AIM

For selected patients with brain metastases (BMs), the role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SFRT) is well recognized. The recent introduction of flattening filter free (FFF) delivery during linac-based SRS or SFRT allows shorter beam-on-time, improving patients' comfort and facility workflow. Nevertheless, limited experiences evaluated the impact of FFF linac-based SRS and SFRT in BMs treatment. Aim of the current study was to analyze SRS/SFRT linac-based FFF delivery for BMs in terms of dosimetric and early clinical results.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with life expectancy >3 months, number of BMs <5, diameter <3 cm, and controlled or synchronous primary tumor received SRS/SFRT. The prescribed total dose and fractionation, based on BMs size and proximity to organs at risk, ranged from 15 Gy in 1 fraction to 30 Gy in 5 fractions. A FFF volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plan was generated with one or two coplanar partial arcs. Toxicity was assessed according to CTCAE v4.0.

RESULTS

From April 2014 to February 2016, 45 patients (89 BMs) were treated with SRS/SFRT linac-based FFF delivery. The mean beam-on-time was 140 s for each lesion (range 90-290 s) and the average brain Dmean was 1 Gy (range 0.1-4.8 Gy). At the time of analysis, local control was reported in 93.2% (83/89 BMs). With a median follow-up time of 12 months (range 1-27 months), the median overall survival was 14 months and the 6-month overall survival was 77%. Finally, the median intracranial disease control was 11 months. Acute and late toxicities were acceptable without severe events (no adverse events ≥G2 were recorded).

CONCLUSIONS

These preliminary results highlighted the feasibility and safety of linac-based SRS/SFRT with FFF mode for BMs patients. A longer follow-up is necessary to confirm the efficacy of this treatment modality in BM patients.