Bevacizumab for stereotactic radiosurgery-induced radiation necrosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with immune check-point inhibitors.

BACKGROUND

Bevacizumab was shown to be effective in the treatment of brain radiation necrosis (RN) attributed to the use of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Data on its efficacy and safety in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with immune check-point inhibitors (ICI) is lacking.

METHODS

A multi-center retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients with NSCLC treated with ICI, who received bevacizumab for post-SRS RN between April 2017 and June 2020. Improvement in RN-associated symptoms, RN radiological improvement, and decrease in corticosteroid dose following bevacizumab initiation were assessed.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients were identified. The median time from diagnosis of RN to initiation of bevacizumab was 3 months (range 1.1-7.8 months), and the median number of bevacizumab cycles before assessment was 2 (range, 1-5). Patients continued ICI during treatment with bevacizumab. Improvement in RN-associated symptoms was observed in 11 patients (85%). In ten patients (77%) the daily dose of dexamethasone was decreased. Radiological improvement of RN occurred in all 11 cases available for radiological assessment (100%). Treatment was withheld in two patients for grade 3-4 toxicity. At a median follow up of 11.9 months (range 2.0-35.4 months), one patient experienced a recurrent episode of RN; the estimated median survival since RN diagnosis was 21.9 months (95% CI 3.8-40.2 months).

CONCLUSION

Treatment with bevacizumab appears to be safe and effective for the treatment of SRS-induced RN in patients with NSCLC treated with ICI. This is the first series to report on the use of bevacizumab in this clinical scenario.