Nearly Half of Metastatic Brain Disease Patients Prescribed 10 Fractions of Whole-Brain Radiation Therapy Die Without Completing Treatment

Since 1954, whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) has been an integral palliative treatment modality for brain metastases.1 For over 40  years, the standard palliative WBRT regimen in the U.S. has been 30 Gy in 10 fractions over two weeks, although shorter regimens have been reported.2-4 Although prolonged (≥10 fractions) WBRT regimens have historically been favored owing to a perceived improvement in neurocognitive side effect profile, hypofractionated WBRT is equally effective for disease control2,3 and reduces the burden of prolonged treatment on patients and caregivers near the end of life.
Source: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management - Category: Palliative Care Authors: Tags: Letter Source Type: research