BACKGROUND: Brain metastases have evolved from a rare to a frequently encountered event in advanced breast cancer due to advances in palliative systemic treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All Patients treated at our centre from 1994 to 2004 with WBRT for brain metastases from breast cancer were included. We performed a multivariate analysis (Cox regression) to explore which factors are able to influence significantly cerebral time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (metastatic sites [visceral versus non-visceral], Karnofsky performance score [KPS], age, intensified local treatment [boost irradiation, neuro-surgical resection] further systemic treatment). RESULTS: Overall 174 patients, median age 51 years, range 27-76 years, were included. Median TTP was 3 months (m), range 1-33+ m. Median overall survival was 7 m, range 1-44 m. Factors significantly influencing TTP were KPS (p = 0.002), intensified local treatment (p < 0.001), and palliative systemic treatment (p = 0.001). Factors significantly influencing survival were intensified local treatment (p = 0.004), metastatic sites (p = 0.008), KPS (p = 0.006), and palliative systemic treatment (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: As shown by the significant influence of metastatic sites, some patients die from their advanced systemic tumour situation before they would die from cerebral progression. In other individuals however, intensified local treatment and systemic treatment appear to influence cerebral time to progression and overall survival.
BACKGROUND:Brain metastases have evolved from a rare to a frequently encountered event in advanced breast cancer due to advances in palliative systemic treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All Patients treated at our centre from 1994 to 2004 with WBRT for brain metastases from breast cancer were included. We performed a multivariate analysis (Cox regression) to explore which factors are able to influence significantly cerebral time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (metastatic sites [visceral versus non-visceral], Karnofsky performance score [KPS], age, intensified local treatment [boost irradiation, neuro-surgical resection] further systemic treatment). RESULTS: Overall 174 patients, median age 51 years, range 27-76 years, were included. Median TTP was 3 months (m), range 1-33+ m. Median overall survival was 7 m, range 1-44 m. Factors significantly influencing TTP were KPS (p = 0.002), intensified local treatment (p < 0.001), and palliative systemic treatment (p = 0.001). Factors significantly influencing survival were intensified local treatment (p = 0.004), metastatic sites (p = 0.008), KPS (p = 0.006), and palliative systemic treatment (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: As shown by the significant influence of metastatic sites, some patients die from their advanced systemic tumour situation before they would die from cerebral progression. In other individuals however, intensified local treatment and systemic treatment appear to influence cerebral time to progression and overall survival.
Authors: Elena Laakmann; Kerstin Riecke; Yvonne Goy; Jan F Kersten; Andreas Krüll; Volkmar Müller; Cordula Petersen; Isabell Witzel Journal: J Cancer Res Clin Oncol Date: 2015-09-30 Impact factor: 4.553
Authors: Rupert Bartsch; Andrea Rottenfusser; Catharina Wenzel; Karin Dieckmann; Ursula Pluschnig; Gabriela Altorjai; Margaretha Rudas; Robert M Mader; Richard Poetter; Christoph C Zielinski; Guenther G Steger Journal: J Neurooncol Date: 2007-06-08 Impact factor: 4.130