[Clinical analysis of 67 patients with brain metastases from breast cancer].
OBJECTIVE
The incidence of brain metastases from breast cancer seems to be increasing with the improvement of systemic control and survival prolongation. This study was to analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment modalities, and prognostic factors of brain metastases from breast cancer.


METHODS
The time from primary diagnosis of breast cancer to brain metastases of 67 breast cancer patients were 0-15 years, and the median time was 2.5 years. Of the 67 patients, 3 received surgery plus radiotherapy, 30 received radiotherapy alone, 3 received chemotherapy alone, 26 received radiochemotherapy, and 5 received no treatment. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test were used to analyze survival status.


RESULTS
Headache was the most common symptom of brain metastases from breast cancer. The median survival time was 4 years. After brain metastases, the median survival time was 11 months. Menstrual status, number of brain metastases, systemic metastases, and different treatment modalities had no correlations to survival time of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The prognosis of brain metastases from breast cancer is still poor. Radiotherapy remains the standard treatment of brain metastases. The function of chemotherapy needs further study.
He
Jing
J
Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital/Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, P. R. China.
Feng
Feng-Yi
FY
Xing
Pu-Yuan
PY
Wang
Xing-Yuan
XY
Zhang
Pin
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D016371:Cranial Irradiation / Q000379:methods; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D015996:Survival Rate
D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate