Research Article
Extracranial Oligometastasis in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Arturo Navarro-Martin1*, Consuelo Jordán de Luna2, Rafael Fuentes3, M Dolores Arnàiz Fernández1 and Josep Jové4
1Radiation Oncology Department, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Spain
2Duran i Reynals Hospital, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Spain
3Radiation Oncology Department, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Spain
4Radiation Oncology Department, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Spain
*Corresponding author: Arturo Navarro-Martin, Radiation Oncology Department, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Spain
Published: 19 Jan, 2018
Cite this article as: Navarro-Martin A, de Luna CJ,
Fuentes R, Fernández MDA, Jové J.
Extracranial Oligometastasis in Non-
Small Cell Lung Cancer. Clin Oncol.
2018; 3: 1397.
Abstract
Classically, the main treatment approach to metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been chemotherapy, achieving a mean survival time of only 8 to 11 months. However, a subset of these patients has a better prognosis and could benefit from radical local treatment. At present, the evidence to support SBRT in oligometastatic NSCLC is limited, despite the increasing number of clinical trials being carried out to evaluate SBRT as monotherapy or in combination with immunomodulatory therapies. Based on the available data, it appears that only 10-15% of patients with oligometastatic disease are likely to benefit from local radical treatment. This subset of patients who are likely to respond well to SBRT should meet certain criteria.
Introduction
Classically, the main treatment approach to metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been chemotherapy, achieving a mean survival time of only 8 to 11 months [1]. However, a subset of these patients have a better prognosis and could benefit from radical local treatment [2]. In a report published in 1996, Hellmann and Weichselbaum [3] found that patients with a limited number of metastatic lesions (from 1 to 5) present a more indolent disease course than those with ≥ 5 metastases. Those authors called this intermediate stage "oligometastasis" to differentiate it from localized NSCLC and from widespread metastasis.
Materials and Methods
We have conducted a descriptive review about extracranial oligometastasis In non-small cell lung cancer as we think is important to clarify which subset of patients are likely to respond to SBRT.
Results
Niibe and Hayakawa [4] later updated this definition by introducing the concept of oligorecurrence
to describe patients whose primary tumor is controlled but who develop metastatic
lesions during the disease course. Oligometastasis is not uncommon in patients with NSCLC: it is
estimated that 20% of patients with stage IV disease are oligometastatic at diagnosis [5]. Treatment
of oligometastatic disease has classically included surgery, with overall survival (OS) rates at one
year ranging from 56% [6] to 73% [7], and a median survival time of 20 months [7].
In recent years, studies have shown that the use of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
to treat oligometastatic lesions can achieve results that are comparable to surgery, with one study
reporting two-year rates of local control and OS of 74% and 39%, respectively [8]. Consequently,
interest in SBRT for this indication has continued to grow. To increase the probability that local
treatment with SBRT will favourably impact the course of disease in this subset, it is essential to
select the patients likely to be good responders and/or those with less aggressive disease [9-11].
At present, the evidence to support SBRT in oligometastatic NSCLC is limited, despite the
increasing number of clinical trials being carried out to evaluate SBRT as monotherapy or in
combination with immunomodulatory therapies [12]. The only randomized trials that have been
published to date are phase II trials (several phase III trials are underway NRG LU 002 NCT
03137771, SARON NCT02417662) and the reported OS rates vary widely, ranging from 18% to 90%
at 2 years [13]. Four reviews have been carried out [13-16], and the
findings of these reviews suggest that there are several clinical factors
that may be useful in identifying patients who are suitable for radical
local treatment, including the following: 1) metachronous lesions
(oligoprogression); 2) limited nodal involvement (N0-N1); and 3)
disease-free interval (DFI) ≥ 6 months.
To date, five phase II prospective studies assessing oligometastatic
disease in primary lung cancer have been published [17-21]. The first
of these, carried out by De Ruysser et al. [17], was published in 2012.
In that study, 39 patients with NSCLC underwent radical treatment of
the primary tumour. Nearly all (95%) of the patients received systemic
treatment and most (87%) presented a single synchronous metastatic
lesion at diagnosis. Median survival was 13.5 months (range, 7.6-
19.4), with OS and progression-free survival (PFS) rates, respectively,
of 56% and 51.3% at one year, and 23% and 13.6% at two years.
A second prospective phase II study, conducted by Collen et al
[18], reported results in 2014. In that study, 26 patients with stage
IV NSCLC and ≤ 5 lesions were treated with SBRT after systemic
treatment or as primary treatment. At a mean follow-up of 16.4
months, 30% of patients showed a complete response at all tumour
sites, and an additional 30% presented a partial response. At one year,
the OS rate was 63% and median survival time was 23 months. It is
worth noting that the mediastinal lymph nodes received the same
dose (50 Gy in 10 fractions) as the primary lung tumor, which could
explain the 8% rate of grade 3 (G3) toxicity in the sample.
The third phase II study was conducted by Iyengar et al [19] and
also published in 2014. The study evaluated 24 patients with NSCLC
with < 7 metastatic lesions (maximum of 3 hepatic or pulmonary
lesions) who progressed to first-line of chemotherapy. The main
outcome measure was 6-month PFS. A novel aspect of the study was
the combination of SBRT with concomitant erlotinib (150 mg/day),
which was initiated one week before treatment and continued until
progression. EGFR determination was not mandatory. The results
were promising, with 6-month PFS of 69% and a median survival
of 20.4 months. However, note that two patients developed severe
pneumonitis (grades G3 and G4), a known adverse effect of anti-
EGFR drugs.
Gomez et al. [20] published the results of a phase II trial in
NSCLC patients with synchronous oligometastatic disease (defined as
≤ 3 lesions, including the primary tumor) at diagnosis. The treatment
scheme was at least four cycles of chemotherapy or, in patients with
EGFR mutations or ALK rearrangements, 3 or more months of EGFR
or ALK inhibitors, respectively. Following treatment, the tumour
was reassessed by CT scan and if the Oligometastasis persisted, the
patients (49 cases) were randomized to receive either maintenance
treatment (24 cases) or local radical treatment (25 cases). The study
was closed prematurely, at a median follow up of 12.39 months, after
the interim analysis revealed a median PFS of 11.9 months in the
local treatment group versus only 3.9 months in the maintenance
group (hazard ratio, 0.35 [90% CI 0.18–0.66], log-rank p = 0.0054).
That study demonstrated that patients who respond well to systemic
treatment clearly benefit from local treatment.
The group of Iyengar et al. [21] recently published the results of
similar trial published by Gomez et al. Patients with an oligometastatic
disease at diagnoses were enrolled. Interestly they include patients
with 6 metastatic extracraneal sites (including the primary), and the
results showed that patients with local treatment achieved better
progression free survival than patients without SBRT.
Discussion
Based on the available data, it appears that only 10-15% of patients with oligometastatic disease are likely to benefit from local radical treatment. This subset of patients who are likely to respond well to SBRT should meet certain criteria. In patients with synchronous disease, these factors include: 1) the possibility of radical treatment of the primary tumor; 2) limited nodal involvement (N0-N1); 3) maximum of 1-2 metastatic lesions amenable to radical treatment; and 4) good response to systemic treatment. In these cases, the asymptomatic metastatic lesions can be treated with SBRT; if the metastatic lesions are symptomatic, treatment of these lesions should be prioritized provided that this does not compromise initiation of systemic treatment. In metachronous disease, the oligoprogression may be treated when the disease-free interval is longer than 6 months and there are less than three metastatic lesions.
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