Safety and feasibility of motexafin gadolinium administration with whole brain radiation therapy and stereotactic radiosurgery boost in the treatment of ≤6 brain metastases: a multi-institutional phase II trial

To determine the safety, tolerability, and report on secondary efficacy endpoints of motexafin gadolinium (MGd) in combination with whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for patients with ≤6 brain metastases. We conducted an international study of WBRT (37.5 Gy in 15 fractions) and SRS (15–21 Gy) with the addition of MGd (5 mg/kg preceding each fraction beginning week 2). The primary endpoint was to evaluate the rate of irreversible grade 3 or any grade ≥4 neurotoxicity and establish feasibility in preparation for a phase III trial. Sixty-five patients were enrolled from 14 institutions, of which 45 (69%) received SRS with MGd as intended and were available for evaluation. Grade ≥3 neurotoxicity attributable to radiation therapy within 3 months of SRS was seen in 2 patients (4.4%), including generalized weakness and radionecrosis requiring surgical management. Immediately following the course of MGd plus WBRT, new brain metastases were detected in 11 patients (24.4%) at the time of the SRS treatment planning MRI. The actuarial incidence of neurologic progression at 6 months and 1 year was 17 and 20%, respectively. The median investigator-determined neurologic progression free survival and overall survival times were 8 (95% CI: 5–14) and 9 months (95% CI: 6–not reached), respectively. We observed a low rate of neurotoxicity, demonstrating that the addition of MGd does not increase the incidence or severity of neurologic complications from WBRT with SRS boost.