Purpose: To evaluate the safety profile and efficacy of whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) concomitantly with temozolomide (TMZ) in patients with brain metastases (BM).
Methods and materials: Patients with BM were randomly assigned to 30 Gy of WBRT with or without concomitant TMZ (75 mg/m(2)/d) plus two cycles of TMZ (200 mg/m(2)/d for 5 days). The primary outcome was analysis of neurologic toxicity. The primary efficacy measures were 90-day progression-free survival of BM and the radiologic response at Days 30 and 90.
Results: We enrolled 82 patients. No neurologic acute toxicity was observed. Grade 3 or worse hematologic toxicity was seen in 3 patients and Grade 3 or worse vomiting in 1 patient of the WBRT plus TMZ arm. The objective response rate at 30 and 90 days and overall survival were similar in both arms. The percentage of patients with progression-free survival of BM at 90 days was 54% for WBRT vs. 72% for WBRT and TMZ (p = 0.03). Death from BM was greater in the WBRT arm (69% vs. 41%, p = 0.03).
Conclusion: The concomitant use of RT with TMZ was well tolerated and resulted in significantly better progression-free survival of BM at 90 days. Although caution should be used, these results suggest TMZ could improve local control of BM.