Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38706724›Full record

ArticleClinical and translational radiation oncology2024

Neuroprotection in radiotherapy of brain metastases: A pattern-of-care analysis in Germany, Austria and Switzerland by the German Society for radiation Oncology - working group Neuro-Radio-Oncology (DEGRO AG-NRO).

N Gleim, A Rühle, S Heider, F Nägler, F A Giordano, S E Combs, J Becker, M Niyazi, A L Grosu, N H Nicolay and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical and translational radiation oncology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

N GleimDepartment of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Leipzig, Stephanstraße 9a, Leipzig, Germany.
A RühleDepartment of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Leipzig, Stephanstraße 9a, Leipzig, Germany.
S HeiderDepartment of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Leipzig, Stephanstraße 9a, Leipzig, Germany.
F NäglerDepartment of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Leipzig, Stephanstraße 9a, Leipzig, Germany.
F A GiordanoDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, Mannheim, Germany.
S E CombsDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, Munich, Germany.
J BeckerDepartment of Radiotherapy and Special Oncology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, Hannover, Germany.
M NiyaziDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 3, Tübingen, Germany.
A L GrosuDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Freiburg - Medical Center, Robert-Koch-Straße 3, Freiburg, Germany.
N H NicolayDepartment of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Leipzig, Stephanstraße 9a, Leipzig, Germany.
C SeidelDepartment of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Leipzig, Stephanstraße 9a, Leipzig, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background and purpose: Many patients with solid tumors develop brain metastases (BM). With more patients surviving long-term, preservation of neurocognitive function gains importance. In recent years, several methods to delay cognitive deterioration have been tested in clinical trials. However, knowledge on the extent to which these neuroprotective strategies have been implemented in clinical practice is missing. Materials and methods: We performed an online survey regarding treatment patterns of BM in German-speaking countries, focused on the use of neuroprotective approaches. The survey was distributed among radiation oncologists (ROs) registered within the database of the German Society for Radiation Oncology (DEGRO). Results: Physicians of 78 centers participated in the survey. Whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) is still preferred by 70 % of ROs over stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) in patients with 6-10 BM. For 4-5 BM WBRT is preferred by 23 % of ROs. The fraction of ROs using hippocampal sparing (HS) in WBRT has increased to 89 %, although the technique is used on a regular basis only by a minority (26 %). The drug memantine is not widely prescribed (14% of ROs). A trend was observed for university hospitals to implement neuroprotective approaches more frequently. Conclusion: There is considerable heterogeneity regarding the treatment of BM in German-speaking countries and a general standard of care is lacking. Neuroprotective strategies are not yet standard approaches in daily clinical routine, although usage is increasing. Further clinical trials, as well as improvement of technical opportunities and reimbursement, might further shift the treatment landscape towards neuroprotective radiation treatments in the future.

Indexed as

Brain metastasesHippocampal sparingMemantineNeuroprotectionRadiotherapy

Identifiers

PMID38706724
PMCPMC11063589

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.