Multicenter Cohort Study of Original or Substitute Systemic Therapy With or Without Brain Radiotherapy for Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer With Brain-Only Progression After First-Line Treatment

Abstract

PURPOSE The optimal second-line strategy for patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) developing brain-only progression (BOP) after first-line therapy remains undefined. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of continuing the original systemic therapy versus switching strategies. METHODS This multicenter cohort study screened 889 patients with ES-SCLC. A total of 203 patients developing BOP were assigned to 3 second-line strategies: continuation of original systemic therapy plus brain radiotherapy (OTP + BRT), substitution therapy plus BRT (ST + BRT), or substitution therapy alone (ST). Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to balance baseline characteristics. The primary end point was overall survival from second-line initiation (OS2). RESULTS In the inverse probability of treatment weighting–weighted analysis of 203 BOP patients, OTP + BRT demonstrated significantly superior median OS2 (14.7 months) compared with ST (10.2 months; hazard ratio [HR], 1.68; P = .028) and ST + BRT (9.8 months; HR, 1.67; P = .023). OTP + BRT also yielded improved median second-line progression-free survival (PFS) (8.0 months) versus ST (4.0 months; P = .024). Multivariable analysis confirmed OTP + BRT as an independent prognostic factor for improved survival. The benefit was most pronounced in patients with prior immunotherapy and longer initial PFS (≥7.5 months). No significant survival differences were observed among radiotherapy modalities (whole-brain radiotherapy v stereotactic radiosurgery). CONCLUSION For ES-SCLC patients with BOP, continuing the original systemic regimen plus BRT yields superior survival compared with switching systemic therapy. This supports a site-of-progression–directed strategy, effectively controlling the CNS sanctuary while maintaining an effective systemic backbone.