Prognostic Factors Affecting the Outcome of Brain Metastases from Breast Cancer
Resource
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER v.15 n.3 pp.349-349
Journal
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
Journal Volume
v.15
Journal Issue
n.3
Pages
349-349
Date Issued
2007
Date
2007
Author(s)
LIU, MU-TAI
HSIEH, CHANG-YAO
WANG, AI-YIH
CHANG, TUNG-HAO
PI, CHU-PING
HUANG, CHIA-CHUN
HUANG, CHAO-YUAN
LIOU, CHENG- HONG
Abstract
Goals of work: The purpose of this study is to analyze the overall survival rate of patients with brain metastases from breast cancer and to determine prognostic factors affecting outcomes of these patients. Patients and methods: From July 1988 to December 2004, 48 female patients with brain metastases from breast cancer underwent full-dose whole- brain radiotherapy (WBRT). In these patients we evaluated the significance of the following factors in predicting the survival rate after WBRT: age, extracranial metastases, number of brain metastases, total dose of WBRT, Karnofsky performance status (KPS), and Radiation Therapy Oncology Group recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) class. Results: The median overall survival rate was 7.3 months. The 1- and 2-year overall survival rates were 37 and 20%, respectively. In univariate analysis, KPS (p < 0.0001), number of lesions of brain metastases (p=0.0149), age (p=0.0452), and RPA class (p < 0.0001) were statistically significant prognostic factors for overall survival. In multivariate analysis, KPS (p < 0.001) and number of brain metastases (p=0.039) were significant prognostic factors for overall survival. Conclusions: Survival of breast cancer patients with brain metastases treated with WBRT is poor. To improve survival, enrollment of more patients with brain metastases from breast cancer for prospective trials involving a multimodality approach that combines radiation and systemic therapies based on appropriate patient triage is warranted.
Subjects
breast cancer
brain metastases
whole-brain radiotherapy
Karnofsky performance status
SDGs