title: Efficiency and prognosis of whole brain irradiation combined with precise radiotherapy on triple-negative breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the treatment efficiency of whole brain irradiation combined with precise radiotherapy on triple-negative (TN) phenotype breast cancer patients with brain metastases and their survival times.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 112 metastatic breast cancer patients treated with whole brain irradiation and intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) or 3D conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) were analyzed. Thirty-seven patients were of TN phenotype. Objective response rates were compared. Survival times were estimated by using the Kaplan-Meier method. Log-rank test was used to compare the survival time difference between the TN and non-TN groups. Potential prognostic factors were determined by using a Cox proportional hazard regression model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The efficiency of radiotherapy treatment on TN and non-TN phenotypes was 96.2% and 97%, respectively. TN phenotype was associated with worse survival times than non-TN phenotype after radiotherapy (6.9 months vs. 17 months) (P < 0.01). On multivariate analysis, good prognosis was associated with non-TN status, lower graded prognosis assessment class, and nonexistence of active extracranial metastases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After whole brain irradiation followed by IMRT or 3DCRT treatment, TN phenotype breast cancer patients with intracranial metastasis had high objective response rates but shorter survival time. With respect to survival in breast cancer patients with intracranial metastasis, the TN phenotype represents a significant adverse prognostic factor.
authors: Xinhong
authors: X
authors: Wu
authors: Department of Radiotherapy, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Wuhan, China.
authors: Bo
authors: B
authors: Luo
authors: Shaozhong
authors: S
authors: Wei
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Luo
authors: Yaojun
authors: Y
authors: Feng
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Xu
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Wei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary; D016371:Cranial Irradiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D064726:Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone