Phase I study of icotinib combined with whole brain radiotherapy for EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer patients with brain metastases: neurocognitive and quality-of-life analysis.

e20009Background: We previously reported that WBRT with concurrent and maintenance icotinib were well tolerated in EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients with brain metastases. This study reports the impact of the combination WBRT with icotinib on neurocognitive function and quality of life (QoL) in these patients. Methods: Patients were treated with icotinib and WBRT in a ‘3+3’ design, the icotinib was started 7 days before and continued during WBRT (37.5Gy/15f/21d), and maintained until disease progression or intolerable toxicities occurred. The mini-mental status examination (MMSE) and functional assessment of cancer therapy-lung (FACT-L) questionnaire were administered into all patients before treatment and every 8 weeks during treatment or follow-up to assess the neurocognitive function and quality of life. Results: Between 2012 and 2013, 15 NSCLC patients with brain metastasis were enrolled. Seven of 15 patients (46%)suffered neurocognitive decline, which mostly occurred (6 of 7, 86%) after intracranial diseas...