Stereotactic Biopsy in Patients with Presumed Brain Metastases Alters Treatment Trajectory

Lay Summary Brain metastases are tumors that spread to the brain from cancer in another part of the body and are the most common brain tumors in adults. The authors of this study wanted to find out how helpful a stereotactic brain biopsy, a procedure that uses detailed scans and a small needle to take a tiny sample, is for confirming the tumor type and DNA changes to help personalize their treatment. To do this, they looked at 725 patients who had this biopsy between 2014 and 2025 and reviewed their scan results, lab findings, treatments, time to treatment, and survival. Their results showed that 38 patients had confirmed brain metastases, the biopsy gave an answer in 95% of cases, DNA changes that could guide treatment were found in 42% of patients, 39% received targeted therapies. Treatment began 13 days after the biopsy on average, and patients with treatable DNA changes lived longer and went longer without tumor growth.