Successful treatment of nonsmall cell lung cancer patients with leptomeningeal metastases using whole brain radiotherapy and tyrosine kinase inhibitors

The efficacy of treatments in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with leptomeningeal metastases (LMs) remains unclear. Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) play an important role in the treatment of patients with NSCLC. However, few studies have investigated the efficacy of combination therapy with TKIs and whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) in patients with NSCLC/LM. We report here the case of a male patient in his 60s with adenocarcinoma who underwent lobectomy of the right upper lobe. The cancer was classified as pT1bN1M0 Stage IIA, and a mutational analysis revealed the presence of an EGFR mutation. However, 6 months after standard chemotherapy, LM had developed and WBRT was administered. Gefitinib (250 mg/day) was administered after WBRT. The patient remained free of significant recurrent disease for 57 months after WBRT was administered. Combination therapy with TKIs and WBRT is associated with relatively long survival times in patients with LM.

Keywords: Epidermal growth factor receptor; leptomeningeal metastases; nonsmall cell lung cancer; tyrosine kinase inhibitors; whole brain radiotherapy.