Brain Radiotherapy

Conventional whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) has changed little and remained an important part of the armamentarium in the management of brain metastases for the better part of the past half century. WBRT is a proven effective therapy but has well-established toxicity, including both short-term effects, such as fatigue and hair loss, as well as long-term effects, which are primarily neurocognitive.

Hippocampal avoidance during whole-brain radiotherapy with memantine for brain metastases appeared to better preserve cognitive function and improve patient-reported outcomes, according to results of a randomized phase 3 study published in Journal of Clinical Oncology.