Dr. Weiss on Selecting Optimal Radiation Therapy for Brain Metastases

Stephanie E. Weiss, MD, FASTRO, chief, Division of Neurologic Oncology, professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, director, Radiation Oncology Residency and Fellowship Training Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, central nervous system cancers panel member, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, discusses selecting optimal radiation therapy for patients with brain metastases.

How to best sequence treatment for patients with brain metastases is an area of ongoing research, says Weiss. Regarding radiation therapy, two options are available for this patient population, Weiss explains.

Whole brain radiation therapy can help prevent new lesions from forming, but the modality is associated with toxicities, such as significant fatigue and neurocognitive changes, Weiss says. Stereotactic radiosurgery, which is being increasingly utilized for patients with brain metastases, treats individual lesions vs treating the entire brain, concludes Weiss.