Case of a Long-Time Survivor with Recurrent Multiple Brain Metastases from Lung Cancer: Terminal Stage Cancer or Chronic Disease

Lung cancer with brain metastasis has a poor prognosis and has always been treated with palliative intent in the past. We report a case of good response to two courses of whole brain irradiation (WBI) and one course of hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (HSRT) over a nine-year period, with no significant neurotoxicity. We present the case of a 43-year-old non-smoker female with biopsy-proven adenocarcinoma of right lower lobe lung, stage T1N2M0, positive for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). She received concurrent 60-Gy chemoradiation in 30 fractions in 2010. She had no local recurrence, but biopsy confirmed distant metastases in neck lymph nodes nine months later. As a result of a 3-cm brain metastasis in the right cerebellum on computed tomography (CT), she received 20-Gy WBI in five fractions. We did not treat any other distant metastases with radiation. She only received systemic tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Four years after the first WBI, she developed headaches and balance problem. MRI showed at least nine metastatic lesions in the brain. She had a craniotomy to remove the largest 4-cm lesion in the right cerebellum followed by 21-Gy WBI in seven fractions. Her symptoms disappeared, and she went back to her normal life. Another MRI three years after the second WBI showed progression of the largest brain metastases in the right cerebellum. We offered her 20-Gy HSRT in five fractions every other day. She tolerated HSRT very well, with no neurotoxicity. She was able to walk without a walker or cane. She could manage all her daily activities. On examination, there was no neurological deficit. CT scan nine months after HSRT showed excellent local control. Stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer with positive ALK can have a good response to TKI, and long survival is possible even with multiple brain metastases. Not all patients will have severe neurotoxicity after multiple courses of WBI. HSRT can be a good alternative treatment to symptomatic brain metastases if craniotomy is not desirable. The acute and late toxicities can be reasonably tolerated. Long-term local control and good quality of life are achievable.