A simple survival score for patients with brain metastases from breast cancer

D. Rades, L. Dziggel, B. Segedin, I. Oblak, V. Nagy, A. Marita, S. E. Schild, N. T. Trang, M. T. Khoa

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background and purpose: Personalized cancer treatment considers the patient's survival prognosis. Therefore, it is important to be able to estimate the patient's survival time, particularly in a palliative situation such as brain metastasis. This study aimed to create and validate a survival score for patients with brain metastasis from breast cancer, which is the second most common primary tumor in these patients. Patients and methods: Data of 230 patients treated with whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) alone for brain metastasis from breast cancer were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were assigned to a test (n = 115) or a validation group (n = 115). According to the results of the multivariate analysis of the test group, Karnofsky Performance Score and extracranial metastases were included in the scoring system. The score for each factor was obtained from the 6-month survival rate (in %) divided by 10. Total scores represented the sum of these scores and were 4, 7, 9, or 12 points. Three prognostic groups were formed. Results: The 6-month survival rates in the test group were 10 % for 4-7 points, 55 % for 9 points, and 78 % for 15 points (p < 0.001). In the validation group the corresponding 6-month survival rates were 11, 54, and 75 %, respectively (p < 0.001). The comparisons between the prognostic groups of the test and the validation group did not show significant differences. Conclusion: This simple survival score appears valid and reproducible. It can be used to estimate the survival time of patients with brain metastasis from breast cancer receiving WBRT alone.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)664-667
Number of pages4
JournalStrahlentherapie und Onkologie
Volume189
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2013

Keywords

  • Brain metastasis
  • Breast cancer
  • Score
  • Survival prognosis
  • Whole-brain radiotherapy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Oncology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A simple survival score for patients with brain metastases from breast cancer'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this