Synergistic effects of laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) and immunotherapy for brain tumor recurrence: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose: The confluence of laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) with immunotherapeutic approaches represents a promising option for managing recurrent brain lesions. However, the potential synergy between these modalities is still unclear. This meta-analysis examines the literature to elucidate the adverse effects and overall survival associated with this combination in treating recurrent brain metastases and glioblastoma.

Methods: Systematic searches were performed on PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Inclusion criteria comprised studies investigating the combined utilization of LITT with immunotherapy, among adult patients diagnosed with recurrent brain metastases and recurrent glioblastoma. Our analysis, using a random-effects model, pooled Overall Survival (OS) and Adverse events (AEs) from all the included studies.

Results: We analyzed 162 patients from one RCT and three non-randomized studies. The pooled analysis of all patients revealed a median OS of 12.8 months (95% CI = 8.31-17.31; p < 0.01) with the combined treatment of LITT and immunotherapy. Similarly, approximately 6% of patients experienced AEs (95% CI=-0.01-0.11; p = 0.03). Subgroup analysis further demonstrated that among patients with recurrent glioma, the combined treatment showed pooled OS of 11 months (95% CI = 7.13-16.62; p < 0.01), while AEs were observed in 4% of patients (95% CI=-0.02-0.10; p = 0.21).

Conclusion: This meta-analysis showed a potentially comparable safety profile and overall survival to conventional treatment modalities. Further research is warranted to test differences in the incidence of AEs and OS from LITT with immunotherapy versus a control.