title: Predicting overall survival in patients with brain metastases from esophageal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify survival predictors and develop a survival score for patients with brain metastases from esophageal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 16 patients, seven factors were analyzed including age, gender, Karnofsky performance score (KPS), time from diagnosis of esophageal cancer to irradiation, number of brain metastases, histology, and presence of extracerebral metastases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Improved survival was significantly associated with KPS≥80 (p<0.001), the presence of one brain metastasis (p=0.007), and no extra-cerebral metastases (p=0.002). These factors were included in the final score. Factor scores were calculated by dividing 6-month survival rates by 10. Total survival scores represented the sums of factor scores and were 2, 7, 10, 19 or 24 points. Six-month survival rates by score were 0%, 0%, 0%, 67% and 100%, respectively. Two groups were formed, those of patients with 2-10 points and those with 19-24 points; 6-month survival was 0% and 88%, respectively (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This new score facilitates the selection of individual therapies for patients with brain metastases from esophageal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany rades.dirk@gmx.net.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rades
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Liesa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dziggel
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bartscht
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gliemroth
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary; D016371:Cranial Irradiation / Q000401:mortality*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
keywords: Esophageal cancer; brain metastases; overall survival; predictive factors; whole-brain irradiation