Int J Curr Pharm Res, Vol 12, Issue 3, 107-110Original Article


COMBINATION OF WHOLE BRAIN RADIOTHERAPY WITH DIFFERENT FRACTION AND CONCOMITANT CAPECITABINE IN BRAIN METASTASIS BREAST CANCER

YEOH RUDIYO 1, JAPARDI ISKANDAR2, LELO AZNAN3, SUSWORO SUSWORO4, PANDELAKI JACUB7, BACHTIAR ADANG5, ICHWAN MUHAMMAD3, INDHARTY SUZY6, JAMNASI JULI1, OMAR WILLIAM1

1Department of Radiotherapy, MurniTeguh Memorial General Hospital, Medan, Indonesia, 2Department of Neurosurgery, Siloam General Hospital, Medan, Indonesia, 3Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia, 4Department of Radiotherapy, Cipto Mangunkusumo National Central General Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia, 5Faculty of Public Health, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia, 6Department of Neurosurgery, Haji Adam Malik General Hospital, Medan, Indonesia, 7Department of Radiology, CiptoMangunkusumo National Central General Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
Email: haseojr1@gmail.com

Received: 20 Jan 2020, Revised and Accepted: 19 Mar 2020

ABSTRACT

Objective: Breast cancer is the second most frequent cancer worldwide. The main therapeutic modality for breast cancer with brain metastasis is radiation. Whole Brain Radiotherapy (WBRT) is a regional treatment that provides moderate doses of radiotherapy to all brain tissue. Capecitabine was found to be effective for the treatment of breast cancer with metastasis. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of WBRT on the response of breast cancer brain metastatic lesions combined with capecitabine administration.

Methods: This study uses a prospective, randomized-blind cohort analytic study approach. Subjects were randomized into two groups by giving different fraction of WBRT and capecitabine. Subjects were evaluated 4 w post-radiation. Data on differences in patient responses in the two treatment groups were analyzed.

Results: A total of 23 breast cancer patients with brain metastasis participated in this study. Group I (WBRT 10x3Gy + capecitabine 1000 mg/m2/b.i.d) obtained results of 5 (45.5%) out of 11 are responding to therapy. Whereas in group II (WBRT 20x2Gy + capecitabine1000 mg/m2/b.i.d) found 11 (91.7%) out of 12 patients responded to therapy. The results of statistical analysis showed that there were significant differences between the two groups with a value of P = 0.027.

Conclusion: Giving capecitabine and WBRT with 20x2Gy gives a better response both clinically and statistically

Keywords: WBRT, Capecitabine, Breast cancer, Brain metastases

© 2020 The Authors. Published by Innovare Academic Sciences Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22159/ijcpr.2020v12i3.38316. Journal homepage: https://innovareacademics.in/journals/index.php/ijcpr

INTRODUCTION

Breast cancer is the second most cancer in the whole world. About 1 in 8 women (about 12%) in the United States has breast cancer, 232,670 new cases in women and 2,360 new cases in men per year [1].

Brain metastases are found in about 10-16% of patients with breast cancer and have poor survival [2]. The main therapeutic modality for breast cancer with brain metastasis is radiation. Whole Brain Radiotherapy (WBRT) with a dose of 150-400cGy per day with a total dose, reaching 3000-5000cGy provides an adequate dose of tumor [3].

Several studies have shown that the combination of chemotherapy and radiation can increase survival for 3-6 mo [4]. Capecitabine was found to be effective for use in breast cancer with metastasis [5]. Some studies say a limited amount of capecitabine, and its metabolites cross the BBB in animal models [6].

There are no studies in Indonesia that have analyzed both the role of whole-brain radiation and the administration of capecitabine to breast cancer patients with brain metastases. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of WBRT on the response of breast cancer brain metastatic lesions by Capecitabine administration.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study uses a prospective, randomized-blind, cohort analytic study approach. Samples were patients with brain metastasis and a history of previous breast malignancies who would undergo WBRT+capecitabine in MurniTeguh Hospital from January 2019 to August 2019, which met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients with visceral metastasis>2, have other primary malignancies, are unwilling to participate in the study, have leptomeningeal or intra-tumoral bleeding, get hormonal therapy or Her2 for breast cancer, get less radiation than planned, and patients who take Capecitabine irregularly and patients with cystic lesions excluded from this study.

Subjects were randomized into two groups by giving different fraction WBRT and capecitabine. Group, I was the subject who received WBRT 10x3Gy and capecitabine 1000 mg/m2/b.i.d., Group II were subjects who received WBRT 20X2 Gy+capecitabine 1000mg/m2/b.i.d.. The subjects were then evaluated 4 w post-radiation by CT scan and MRI brain examination by contrast. The measurement results are divided into two, namely a value of 1 if a complete response is found (loss of all intra-cranial lesion targets with no evidence of tumor anywhere) or a partial response (at least a reduction of at least 30% of all tumor measurements), and a value of 0 if not there is a response (stable or progressive). Data on differences in patient responses in the two treatment groups were analyzed with the SPSS program. The dependent variable is categorized as Responsder (CR+PR) and Non-Responsder (SD+PD). Analysis of differences in respondent characteristics and responses of brain metastatic breast cancer patients receiving WBRT and capecitabine combination therapy was performed using the Chi-square test if the data were normally distributed or Fischer exact if the data were not normally distributed. A P value of difference<0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

A total of 23 breast cancer patients with brain metastasis participated in this study. Subjects were divided into two groups. Group 1 were 11 subjects and group 2 were 12 subjects, in which group 1 treatment was 10x3Gy+capecitabine and group 2 was 20x2Gy+capecitabine.

Table 1: Characteristics of subjects

  Group 1 (10 X 3 Gy) Group 2 (20 X 2 Gy) Total P value*
n % n % n %
Age <50 5 38.5 8 61.5 13 100 0.414
≥50 6 60 4 40 10 100
Total 11 47.8 12 52.2 23 100
Ethnic Batak 3 37.5 5 62.5 8 100 0.581
Aceh 3 60 2 40 5 100
Java 2 40 3 60 5 100
Chineese 3 75 1 25 4 100
Malay 0 0 1 100 1 100
Total 11 47.8 12 52.2 23 100
Education Elementary 3 75 1 25 4 100 0.423
Junior high school 1 20 4 80 5 100
Senior high school 5 55.6 4 44.4 9 100
Diploma 0 0 1 100 1 100
Bachelor 2 50 2 50 4 100
Total 11 47.8 12 52.2 23 100
Occupation Housewife 6 42.9 8 57.1 14 100 0.486
Private employee 2 40 3 60 5 100
Entrepreneur 3 75 1 25 4 100
Total 11 47.8 12 52.2 23 100
Menstrual Status Pre-Menopause 5 35.7 9 64.3 14 100 0.214
Menopause 6 66.7 3 33.3 9 100
Total 11 47.8 12 52.2 23 100
Overall Treatment Time 12-14 d 0 0 12 100 12 100 <0.001
26-31 d 11 100 0 0 11 100
Total 11 47.8 12 52.2 23 100
KPS <70 6 75 2 25 8 100 0.089
≥70 5 33.7 10 66.7 15 100
Total 12 52.2 12 52.2 23 100
Lesions ≤3 4 30.8 9 69.2 13 100 0.1
>3 7 70 3 30 10 100
Total 11 47.8 12 52.2 23 100
Hb <10 0 0 0 0 0 0 . a
≥10 11 47.8 12 52.2 23 100
Total 11 47.8 12 52.2 23 100
Leukocyte <3,600/µl 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.069
3,600–11,000/µl 6 35.3 11 64.7 17 100
>11.000/µl 5 83.3 1 16.7 6 100
Total 11 47.8 12 52.2 23 100
Thrombocyte <150,000/µl 0 0 0 0 0 0 . a
150,000–450,000/µl 11 47.8 12 52.2 23 100
>450,000/µl 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 11 47.8 12 52.2 23 100
AST ≤ 45 µ/l 9 42.9 12 57.1 21 100 0.217
>45 µ/l 3 100 3 100 3 100
Total 11 47.8 12 52.2 23 100
ALT ≤ 35 µ/l 5 45.5 6 54.5 11 100 1
>35 µ/l 6 50 6 50 12 100
Total 11 47.8 12 52.2 23 100
Ur <13 mg/dl 1 100 0 0 1 100 0.478
13–43 mg/dl 10 45.5 12 54.5 22 100
>43 mg/dl 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 11 47.8 12 52.2 23 100
Cr <0.50 mg/dl 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.069
0.50–0.90 mg/dl 10 62.5 6 37.5 16 100
>0.90 mg/dl 1 14.3 6 85.7 7 100
Total 11 47.8 12 52.2 23 100
PA Invasive Ductal Ca 11 47.8 12 52.2 23 100 . a
Invasive Lobular Ca 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 11 47.8 12 52.2 23 100
IHK ER+, PR+, HER2- 1 50 1 50 2 100 0.392
ER+, PR+, HER2+ 0 0 3 100 3 100
ER-, PR-, HER2+ 4 57.1 3 42.9 7 100
ER-, PR-, HER2- 1 100 0 0 1 100
No examination 5 50 5 50 10 100
Total 11 50 11 50 22 100

Based on the characteristics of the research subjects, the variables of age, ethnicity, education, occupation and menstrual status showed homogeneous results in both groups. Other variables such as KPS, lesions, hemoglobin, leukocytes, platelets, AST, ALT, Creatinine, Ureum, PA, and IHK also showed homogeneous results. Overall Treatment Time (OTT) and Cr value data showed significant differences between the two groups, which found OTT for 12-14 d of 11 subjects (100%) in group 1 and OTT for 26-31 d of 12 subjects (100%) in group 2 (p =<0.001). And also found Cr<0.50 mg/dl of 2 subjects (100%) in group 1 and Cr>0.90 mg/dl of 6 subjects (100%) in group 2 (p = 0.01).

Table 2: The correlation between subject characteristic and therapeutics response

  Responder Non-Responder Total P value*
n % n % n %
Age <50 9 69.2 4 30.8 13 100 1
≥50 7 70 3 30 10 100
Total 16 69.6 7 30.4 23 100
Ethnic Batak 7 87.5 1 12.5 8 100 0.590
Aceh 3 60 2 40 5 100
Java 3 60 2 40 5 100
Chineese 2 50 2 50 4 100
Malay 1 100 0 0 1 100
Total 16 69.6 7 30.4 23 100
Education Elementary 3 75 1 25 4 100 0.938
Junior high school 3 60 2 40 5 100
Senior high school 6 66.7 3 33.3 9 100
Diploma 1 100 0 0 1 100
Bachelor 3 75 1 25 4 100
Total 16 69.6 7 30.4 23 100
Occupation Housewife 10 71.4 4 28.6 14 100 0.606
Private employee 4 80 1 20 5 100
Entrepreneur 2 50 2 50 4 100
Total 16 69.6 7 30.4 23 100
Menstrual Status Pre-Menopause 13 92.9 1 7.1 14 100 0.005
Menopause 3 33.3 6 66.7 9 100
Total 16 69.6 7 30.4 23 100
Overall Treatment Time 12-14 d 11 91.7 1 8.3 12 100 0.027
26-31 d 5 45.5 6 54.5 11 100
Total 16 69.6 7 30.4 23 100
KPS <70 6 75 2 25 8 100 1
≥70 10 66.7 5 33.3 15 100
Total 16 69.6 7 30.4 23 100
Lesions ≤3 12 92.3 1 7.7 13 100 0.019
>3 4 40 6 60 10 100
Total 16 69.6 7 30.4 23 100
Hb <10 0 0 0 0 0 0 . a
≥10 16 69.6 7 30.4 23 100
Total 16 69.6 7 30.4 23 100
Leukocyte <3,600/µl 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.318
3,600–11,000/µl 13 76.5 4 23.5 17 100
>11.000/µl 3 50 3 50 6 100
Total 16 69.6 7 30.4 23 100
Thrombocyte <150,000/µl 0 0 0 0 0 0 . a
150,000–450,000/µl 16 69.9 6 30.4 23 100
>450,000/µl 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 16 69.6 7 30.4 23 100
AST ≤ 45 µ/l 15 71.4 6 28.6 21 100 0.526
>45 µ/l 1 50 1 50 2 100
Total 16 69.6 7 30.4 23 100
ALT ≤ 35 µ/l 7 63.6 4 36.4 11 100 0.667
>35 µ/l 9 75 3 25 12 100
Total 16 69.6 7 30.4 23 100
Ur <13 mg/dl 0 0 1 100 1 100 0.304
13–43 mg/dl 16 72.7 6 27.3 22 100
>43 mg/dl 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 16 69.6 7 30.4 23 100
Cr <0.50 mg/dl 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.366
0.50–0.90 mg/dl 10 62.5 6 37.5 16 100
>0.90 mg/dl 6 85.7 1 14.3 7 100
Total 16 69.6 7 30.4 23 100
PA Invasive Ductal Ca 16 69.6 7 30.4 23 100 . a
Invasive Lobular Ca 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 16 69.6 7 30.4 23 100
IHK ER+, PR+, HER2- 2 100 0 0 2 100 0.346
ER+, PR+, HER2+ 2 66.7 1 33.3 3 100
ER-, PR-, HER2+ 6 85.7 1 14.3 7 100
ER-, PR-, HER2- 0 0 1 100 1 100
No examination 6 60 4 40 10 100
Total 16 69.6 7 30.4 23 100

The characteristics of the research subjects, the variables of age, ethnicity, education, occupation, KPS and lesions showed no significant correlation to therapeutic response. Other variables such as hemoglobin, leukocytes, platelets, AST, ALT, Creatinine, Ureum, PA, and IHK also showed also no significant correlation to therapeutic response. The characteristics that shown significant correlation were Menstrual Status, OTT and Lesions.

Table 3: The result of response

  Responder Non-Responder Total P value*
n % n %
Group 1 5 45.5 6 54.5
Group 2 11 91.7 1 8.3
Total 16 69.6 6 30.4

The results of responses to WBRT and capecitabine showed significant differences between groups. Group I (WBRT 10x3Gy + capecitabine 1000 mg/m2/b.i.d) obtained results of 5 (45.5%) responding to therapy. Whereas ingroup II (WBRT 20x2Gy + capecitabine 1000 mg/m2/b.i.d) found 11 (91.7%) patients responded to therapy. The results of statistical analysis showed that there were significant differences between the two groups with a value of P = 0.027.

DISCUSSION

Subject characteristics

Brain metastatic breast cancer can occur in women of all ages. In this study, the highest number of subjects was found in the age range<50 y. This is consistent with research conducted by Chargari, in 2009 where the average age of the most frequently found was 38-53 y.

Response to WBRT+capecitabine

In this study, there were more respondents in group 2, WBRT 20x2Gy+ capecitabine with 12 subjects (91.7%). Clinically, there are more respondents in group 2. By giving WBRT 20x, then the dose of capecitabine will also increase. As capecitabine is increased, the radio sensitizer effect will also increase during WBRT. In a study conducted by Cyrus, in 2009 by giving 10X3Gy+capecitabine, 1000 mg/m2 obtained 60% responder results. WBRT 20x2Gy is well tolerated and considered in patients with SPK ≥ 70 with solitary or multiple lesions; this was stated in a study conducted by Noordijk et al., In 1994.

In this study, statistically, the results were obtained p = 0.027, in which there was a response relationship between the groups and WBRT+capecitabine.

Factors that affect the study

There are many factors that affect this study, one of which is the time of the study. The duration of the study was also influenced by several factors, such as rare cases such as breast cancer with brain metastases. Also, the issue of subject availability agreed to therapy, such as socioeconomic problems in patients. Because most patients come from out of town and are required to stay near the hospital during therapy. Patients must find a place to stay and eat alone. Another factor is family support, because it is far from the place of origin, so support from the family is also very little.

The availability of resources in Indonesia is also very limited, where the LINAC devices that can use SRS or SRT technique are also limited. Because of this limitation, this study uses WBRT.

The dose of the capecitabine used is 1000mg/m2/b.i.d because the drug preparations in Indonesia are only 500 mg per tablet. Abroad, there are 2 preparations of Capecitabine, namely 500 mg/tab and 150 mg/tab.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Further research is expected to be carried out to assess survival rates and the relationship of therapeutic response to survival rates. In addition, it is recommended to provide 500 mg/tab and 150 mg/tab capecitabine preparation and LINAC devices that can-do the SRS technique in Indonesia.

FUNDING

Nil

AUTHORS CONTRIBUTIONS

All the authors have contributed equally.

CONCLUSION

In this study, the administration of capecitabine and 20 x 2gy fractions gave a better response both clinically and statistically (p = 0.027).

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