OBJECTIVEImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) improve survival in patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Clinical trials examining the efficacy of ICIs in patients with NSCLC excluded patients with untreated brain metastases (BMs). As stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is commonly employed for NSCLC-BMs, the authors sought to define the safety and radiological and clinical outcomes for patients with NSCLC-BMs treated with concurrent ICI and SRS.METHODSA retrospective matched cohort study was performed on patients who had undergone SRS for one or more NSCLC-derived BMs. Two matched cohorts were identified: one that received ICI before or after SRS within a 3-month period (concurrent ICI) and one that did not (ICI naive). Locoregional tumor control, peritumoral edema, and central nervous system (CNS) adverse events were compared between the two cohorts.RESULTSSeventeen patients (45 BMs) and 34 patients (92 BMs) composed the concurrent-ICI and ICI-naive cohorts, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in overall survival (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.39–2.52, p = 0.99) or CNS progression-free survival (HR 2.18, 95% CI 0.72–6.62, p = 0.11) between the two groups. Similarly, the 12-month local tumor control rate was 84.9% for tumors in the concurrent-ICI cohort versus 76.3% for tumors in the ICI-naive cohort (p = 0.94). Further analysis did reveal that patients receiving concurrent ICI had increased rates of CNS complete response for BMs treated with SRS (8/16 [50%] vs 5/32 [15.6%], p = 0.012) per the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) criteria. There was also a shorter median time to BM regression in the concurrent-ICI cohort (2.5 vs 3.1 months, p < 0.0001). There was no increased rate of radiation necrosis or intratumoral hemorrhage in the patients receiving concurrent ICI (5.9% vs 2.9% in ICI-naive cohort, p = 0.99). There was no significant difference in the rate of peritumoral edema progression between the two groups (concurrent ICI: 11.1%, ICI naive: 21.7%, p = 0.162).CONCLUSIONSThe concurrent use of ICI and SRS to treat NSCLC-BM was well tolerated while providing more rapid BM regression. Concurrent ICI did not increase peritumoral edema or rates of radiation necrosis. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether combined ICI and SRS improves progression-free survival and overall survival for patients with metastatic NSCLC.

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INTRODUCTION Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) improve survival in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Clinical trials examining the efficacy of ICI in patients with NSCLC excluded patients with untreated brain metastases (BM). As stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is commonly employed for NSCLC-BMs, we sought to define the safety, radiologic/clinical outcomes for patients with NSCLC-BM treated with concurrent ICI/SRS. METHODS A retrospective, matched cohort study was performed on patients who underwent SRS to one or more NSCLC-derived BM. Two matched cohorts were identified: one who received ICI within 3-mo of SRS (concurrent-ICI) and one who did not (ICI-naive). Locoregional tumor control, peritumoral edema, and central nervous system adverse events were compared. RESULTS A total of 17 patients (45-BMs) and 34 patients (92-BMs) comprised the concurrent-ICI and ICI-naive cohorts, respectively. Per RANO criteria, there was no difference in overall-survival (HR 0.99, 95% CI: 0.39-2.52) or CNS progression-free-survival (HR 2.18, 95% CI 0.72-6.62) between both groups. Similarly, the 12-mo local tumor control rate was 84.9% and 76.3% for tumors in the concurrent-ICI and ICI-naive cohorts, respectively (P = .94). Nevertheless, patients receiving concurrent-ICI had increased rates of complete response for BMs treated with SRS (50% vs 15.6%; P = .012) per RANO criteria. There was a shorter median time to BM regression in the concurrent-ICI cohort (2.5-mo vs 3.1-mo, P < .001). There was no increased rate of radiation necrosis or intratumoral hemorrhage in patients receiving concurrent-ICI (concurrent-ICI: 5.9%; ICI-naive: 2.9%, P = .99). There was no difference in the rate of peritumoral edema progression across both groups (concurrent-ICI: 11.1%, ICI-naive: 21.7%; P = .162). CONCLUSION The use of ICI/SRS to treat NSCLC-BM was well tolerated while providing more rapid BM regression. Concurrent-ICI did not increase rates of peritumoral edema, radiation necrosis, or intratumoral hemorrhage. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether concurrent ICI/SRS improves PFS/OS for patients with metastatic NSCLC.

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A genomic cosmid library was used to develop seven highly polymorphic microsatellite markers for the Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida). These are the first reported microsatellite markers derived from this species. The cloned and sequenced repeat motifs include a triplet repeat of (AAT)n, two tetranucleotide repeats of (GATA)n, a tetranucleotide repeat of (ATCC)n, a compound repeat of (GA)n(GATA)n and the two pentanucleotide repeats (AGAAT)n and (ATTTT)n. The microsatellites described represent six presumably independent loci with the two pentanucleotide repeats having originated from a single cosmid. Primer pairs allow locus‐specific amplification of each marker from Mexican spotted owl genomic DNA.