Management of metastatic melanoma patients with brain metastases

Abstract

Brain metastases seem to be an almost inevitable complication in patients with metastatic melanoma. Except for the rare patients who can undergo successful surgical resection of brain metastases, current management strategies do not appear adequate and result in a poor outcome (median survival, 2-4 months). In recent small series, stereotactic radiosurgery or gamma-knife treatment has suggested improvement in local control compared with whole brain radiation therapy. We have recently shown prolonged survival (11.1 months) using a multimodality treatment approach in 44 sequential patients with melanoma brain metastases. A subsequent study demonstrated that the outcome of biochemotherapy for metastatic melanoma is not affected by the presence or absence of brain metastases. Our results suggest that the outcome of patients with melanoma brain metastases can be improved using a multidisciplinary management strategy.