Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Patterns of failure after prophylactic cranial irradiation in small-cell lung cancer: analysis of 505 randomized patients.
Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) has a beneficial effect on overall survival in patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) in complete remission as shown in a worldwide meta-analysis. The current analysis aimed to evaluate PCI effects on patterns of failure in this patient category. ⋯ PCI decreased significantly the risk of brain metastasis. Other events were not influenced. The relative death risk reduction was of borderline significance. Results reported as isolated first cause of failure and subsequent competing events may explain why a major treatment effect on brain metastases rate has a rather moderate effect on survival.