Brain metastases from lung cancer: recent advances and novel therapeutic opportunities

Abstract Metastatic intracranial progression drastically impacts prognosis, therapeutic considerations and quality of life. The increasing incidence of lung cancer patients developing brain metastases (BM) parallels the incorporation of more effective systemic agents and improved surveillance. Our e...

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Main Authors: Stephen C. Layng, Alexis Betsock, Alireza Mansouri, Takefumi Komiya, Joseph A. Miccio, Sean S. Mahase, Jonathan P. S. Knisely
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-02-01
Series:Discover Oncology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-01873-0
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author Stephen C. Layng
Alexis Betsock
Alireza Mansouri
Takefumi Komiya
Joseph A. Miccio
Sean S. Mahase
Jonathan P. S. Knisely
author_facet Stephen C. Layng
Alexis Betsock
Alireza Mansouri
Takefumi Komiya
Joseph A. Miccio
Sean S. Mahase
Jonathan P. S. Knisely
author_sort Stephen C. Layng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Metastatic intracranial progression drastically impacts prognosis, therapeutic considerations and quality of life. The increasing incidence of lung cancer patients developing brain metastases (BM) parallels the incorporation of more effective systemic agents and improved surveillance. Our evolving knowledge of BM pathophysiology, along with advancements in surgical, radiotherapy and systemic therapy options, is rapidly changing prognostication and treatment paradigms. Optimal management of BM in the modern era is patient-specific, dependent on performance status, comorbidities, intracranial and extracranial disease burden, leptomeningeal disease, and the presence of targetable mutations. The purpose of this review is to provide a detailed overview of the detection, prognostication, and multidisciplinary, management of BM arising from non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. We discuss contemporary evidence and active clinical trials supporting a wide array of treatment options, including surgery, radiosurgery, memory-avoidance whole brain radiation, craniospinal irradiation, chemotherapy, targeted agents and immunotherapy. Multidisciplinary paradigms will continue to evolve as currently accruing randomized trials evaluating these promising treatments options mature.
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publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Springer
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series Discover Oncology
spelling doaj-art-15b8329cce1a4d5c8a9f5db1e383b88b2025-08-20T02:43:13ZengSpringerDiscover Oncology2730-60112025-02-0116111610.1007/s12672-025-01873-0Brain metastases from lung cancer: recent advances and novel therapeutic opportunitiesStephen C. Layng0Alexis Betsock1Alireza Mansouri2Takefumi Komiya3Joseph A. Miccio4Sean S. Mahase5Jonathan P. S. Knisely6Department of Radiation Oncology, Penn State Cancer InstituteDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Penn State Cancer InstituteDepartment of Neurosurgery, Penn State Cancer InstituteDepartment of Hematology/Oncology, Penn State Cancer InstituteDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Penn State Cancer InstituteDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Penn State Cancer InstituteDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell MedicineAbstract Metastatic intracranial progression drastically impacts prognosis, therapeutic considerations and quality of life. The increasing incidence of lung cancer patients developing brain metastases (BM) parallels the incorporation of more effective systemic agents and improved surveillance. Our evolving knowledge of BM pathophysiology, along with advancements in surgical, radiotherapy and systemic therapy options, is rapidly changing prognostication and treatment paradigms. Optimal management of BM in the modern era is patient-specific, dependent on performance status, comorbidities, intracranial and extracranial disease burden, leptomeningeal disease, and the presence of targetable mutations. The purpose of this review is to provide a detailed overview of the detection, prognostication, and multidisciplinary, management of BM arising from non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. We discuss contemporary evidence and active clinical trials supporting a wide array of treatment options, including surgery, radiosurgery, memory-avoidance whole brain radiation, craniospinal irradiation, chemotherapy, targeted agents and immunotherapy. Multidisciplinary paradigms will continue to evolve as currently accruing randomized trials evaluating these promising treatments options mature.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-01873-0
spellingShingle Stephen C. Layng
Alexis Betsock
Alireza Mansouri
Takefumi Komiya
Joseph A. Miccio
Sean S. Mahase
Jonathan P. S. Knisely
Brain metastases from lung cancer: recent advances and novel therapeutic opportunities
Discover Oncology
title Brain metastases from lung cancer: recent advances and novel therapeutic opportunities
title_full Brain metastases from lung cancer: recent advances and novel therapeutic opportunities
title_fullStr Brain metastases from lung cancer: recent advances and novel therapeutic opportunities
title_full_unstemmed Brain metastases from lung cancer: recent advances and novel therapeutic opportunities
title_short Brain metastases from lung cancer: recent advances and novel therapeutic opportunities
title_sort brain metastases from lung cancer recent advances and novel therapeutic opportunities
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-01873-0
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