At a loss with brain metastasis of lung cancer? These two methods can cut off the cancer cells' way of life

The metastasis of cancer cells to the brain involves passing through four major checkpoints: detachment from the primary lesion and invasion of surrounding tissues

2.   entering the blood circulation and disseminating throughout the body

3.   formation of cancer thrombus and retention in distal capillaries

4.   extravasation and colonization of brain tissue from blood vessels

     

Treatment difficulties:

The special structure of the blood-brain barrier makes it impossible for most drugs to reach effective concentrations, chemotherapy and targeted drugsThe effect is poor.

Facing numerous difficulties, should brain metastasis patients just give up treatment? When Mr. Dong is at a loss, he contacts Professor Zhang Minghui's Lehe Xinyi team , hoping to find more treatment opportunities

【 Lehe Second Diagnosis and Treatment Suggestion: Comprehensive Evaluation          

     

According to the analysis by Professor Zhang Minghui and his Lehexin Medical team:

Based on the current examination, Mr. Dong's oligometastatic lesion appears to be an isolated lesion. In this case, using precision radiotherapy, whether it is gamma knife or cyber knife, is relatively ideal for treating small brain lesions (one or two centimeters).

However, metastatic lesions often do not appear in isolation, and there is a high probability of latent lesions. If not intervened effectively in a timely manner, latent metastatic lesions will emerge one after another. At this time, immediately following up with vNKT immunotherapy, using immune enhancement methods to systematically and precisely eliminate residual cancer cells is beneficial for Mr. Dong's subsequent treatment and reducing the risk of recurrence and metastasis.

1. Stereotactic radiotherapy - precise "targeting "of tumors

Technical principle:

Through three-dimensional imaging guidance, focus high-dose radiation on the tumor from multiple angles.

Treatment Advantages:

* Radiotherapy can destroy the blood-brain barrier, increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, and enhance the efficacy of drugs on cranial brain lesions[]

* High precision and minimal error, maximizing brain function, and avoiding the risks of paralysis or aphasia that may arise from surgery.

* Non-invasive, avoiding the risk of craniotomy

2. vNKT cell therapy - systemic immune regulation

     

Direct killing:

vNKT cells possess both the broad-spectrum killing ability of NK cells and the precise recognition capability of CD8+ T cells.

Microenvironment modification:

Elimination of immunosuppressive cells (MDSCs), blocking the breeding ground for metastasis "".

         

         

vNKT cell immunotherapy            

Natural killer T (NKT) cells are a special T-cell subset that possesses both T-cell receptor (TCR) and NK cell receptors on their surface. They exhibit important characteristics of both NK cells and T cells, with the dual ability to recognize tumor cells nonspecifically and specifically, and can rapidly kill tumor cells. Within the NKT cell subset, there is a larger and more potent special type of soldier, discovered by Professor Zhang Minghui's experimental team at Tsinghua University, known as vNKT (Variant Natural Killer T) cells.

The number of these vNKT cells in the body is very small, and they are not easily activated. However, once activated, they can single-handedly eliminate those tumor cells that may remain undetected in the body. Additionally, research has found that vNKT cells have dual anti-tumor effects. Not only can they directly kill cancer cells, but they can also regulate the immune microenvironment within tumor tissues, kill inhibitory immune cells such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), break down tumor immune evasion, rebuild the normal immune system, and further prevent recurrence and metastasis.

           

Experimental conditions: In the presence of vNKT cells, nearly all B16 tumor cells were killed after 16 hours!

     

Mr. Dong underwent 10 sessions of whole-brain radiotherapy in December 2020, and 2 sessions of cyber knife treatment in December 2020, concurrently with vNKT cell therapy.As of December 2024, he has undergone 22 courses of vNKT cell therapy, and is currently continuing the treatment.
     

     

During the period, follow-up visits and imaging examinations revealed no signs of recurrence or metastasis . Professor Zhang Minghui's Lehe New Medical team tailored a specific treatment plan for him, and its effectiveness has been validated . Since his diagnosis in 2020, Mr. Dong is about to reach the five-year survival milestone, far exceeding expectations.      

02          

           

           

Imaging changes 

Imaging  changes

   

Imaging shows:    

In July 2020, a 2.5×3cm quasi-circular space-occupying lesion with spicules and lobulation was found in the right upper lobe, suggesting lung cancer. Chest CT scans from July 2021 to November 2021 showed postoperative changes in the right upper lobe after resection, with no other obvious signs of recurrence or metastasis; follow-up CT scans from August 2023 to January 2025 showed postoperative changes in the right upper lobe.

   

Cranial imaging revealed:

In July 2020, a density-enhanced lesion was observed in the right occipital lobe on CT, suggesting metastasis; in December 2020, an abnormal signal focus was detected in the right occipital lobe on MRI, which was larger compared to previous findings, and considering the patient's history, metastasis was suspected. In July 2021 and November 2021, follow-up examinations showed a significant reduction in the metastatic lesion in the right occipital lobe , suggesting post-treatment changes. From August 2023 to January 2025, follow-up examinations after cranial surgery revealed a softened lesion in the right occipital lobe, measuring approximately 2.8X3.6cm.

   

03          

         

         

Conclusion and Commentary          

   

Mr. Dong's case demonstrates that, for patients with large tumor tissues, even in the early stage, one should not be complacent, as large tumors contain abundant blood vessels. Both surgery and puncture carry certain risks, allowing fallen cancer cells to metastasize to other locations along blood vessels or lymphatic vessels. Even if chemotherapy is not required after surgery, follow-up treatment should be administered to eliminate residual cancer cells through immune enhancement methods.

Furthermore, if local minimally invasive methods such as radiofrequency ablation, intervention, and precision radiotherapy can be used after metastasis occurs, the oligometastatic lesions can be promptly controlled, and then combined with immunocyte therapy, not only can it improve the intracranial complete response rate and shorten the lesion regression time, but it may also improve the patient's prognosis. [2]    

   

Although there are differences in the condition of each patient , this model provides new hope for patients with brain metastases from lung cancer. For further information on personalized treatment options, please consult Lehe medical team for targeted advice.

   

Your anti-cancer strategy can be more precise

     

If you or your family members are facing a dilemma in treatment choices, scan the QR code below to add our assistant on WeChat, and you can:

* Obtain a second opinion from Professor Zhang Minghui: a personalized treatment plan , with professional assistance to help you find the most suitable survival strategy .

*  Join the anti-cancer support community: share experiences with more patients and receive support from real-life cases .

   

     

     

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Communicate with Professor Zhang Minghui's team

       

       

Zhang Minghui

Founder of Lehe New Medicine

     

Professor Zhang Minghui, with a PhD in Immunology from Tsinghua University School of Medicine, has led a research team for over 20 years since the discovery of vNKT cells in 2002. They have accumulated treatment experience in over 700 cases of solid tumors, covering almost all common solid tumors. The research results fully demonstrate the great value of vNKT cells in the treatment of solid tumors.

It is suitable for patients with high pathological malignancy or a risk of recurrence after surgery; patients whose tumors have been basically controlled but not cured through conventional treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy; patients with persistent high carcinogenic factors; and patients intolerant to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. If these patients do not receive effective follow-up treatment after traditional anti-tumor therapy, recurrence, metastasis, or reoccurrence of tumors will be highly probable. In this case, vNKT cell therapy is an ideal follow-up treatment method that can significantly improve patient prognosis.

Written by: Yizhituan    

Reviewed by: Qiao Jiacheng, Wang Ying, Gao Chen    

Edited/typeset by Zhang Jiao    

   

Refer to literature:

[1]Sprowls SA, Arsiwala1 TA, Bumgarner JR, et al. Improving CNS Delivery to Brain Metastases by Blood-Tumor Barrier Disruption[J]. Trends Cancer, 2019, 5(8): 495-505.

[2]Sun Yichu, Liang Fei, Xia Yurong Research progress on radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy for brain metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer [J]. Cancer Prevention and Treatment Research, 2023, 50(07): 705-709.

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