Glutamate Excitotoxicity in Brain Metastases From Lung, Breast and Melanoma Treated With Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Brain metastases (BM) represents a devastating clinical reality, carrying an estimated survival time of less than one year. Number of reasons, including complicated tumor biology and difficulties in modeling metastatic cancer in brain microenvironment, do hinder research on this topic. BM are indeed the most frequent neoplasm in the central nervous system (CNS) and is estimated that up to 14% of all newly diagnosed cancers will metastasize to the brain. A number of reasons, including complicated tumor biology and difficulties in modeling metastatic cancer in brain microenvironment, do hinder research on this topic. Present knowledge regarding alterations in Glutamate (Glu) homeostasis and BM is poor. This study aims at investigating Glu balance in BM patients and providing supporting evidence to the identification of new putative biomarkers to be used as potential therapeutic targets.

Sex

All

Minimum age

18 Years

Inclusion Criteria (Target group)

* Adult patients carrying melanoma, breast or lung cancer BM of new diagnosis
* Patients eligible to SRS-GK treatment

Inclusion Criteria (Control group 1)

\- Adult patients carrying melanoma, breast or lung cancer without BM

Inclusion Criteria (Control group 2)

* Adult patients carrying intracranial extra-axial benign tumor
* Patients eligible to SRS-GK treatment

Exclusion Criteria:

* Acute or chronic liver disease
* Severe anemia (Hb \<8g/dl)
* Pregnant or breastfeeding patient
* Pediatric patients
* Patients not able to express informed consent

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