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Upadhyay R, Klamer BG, Perlow HK, White JR, Bazan JG, Jhawar SR, Blakaj DM, Grecula JC, Arnett A, Mestres-Villanueva MA, Healy EH, Thomas EM, Chakravarti A, Raval RR, Lustberg M, Williams NO, Palmer JD, Beyer SJ. Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Women Older than 65 with Breast Cancer Brain Metastases. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 16:137. [PMID: 38201564 PMCID: PMC10778270 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16010137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the second most common cause of brain metastases (BM). Despite increasing incidence of BM in older women, there are limited data on the optimal management of BM in this age group. In this study, we assessed the survival outcomes and treatment patterns of older breast cancer patients ≥65 years old with BM compared to younger patients at our institution. METHODS An IRB-approved single-institutional retrospective review of biopsy-proven breast cancer patients with BM treated with 1- to 5-fraction stereotactic radiation therapy (SRS) from 2015 to 2020 was performed. Primary endpoint was intracranial progression-free survival (PFS) defined as the time interval between the end of SRS to the date of the first CNS progression. Secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS) from the end of SRS and radiation treatment patterns. Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazard regression method were used for survival analyses. RESULTS A total of 112 metastatic breast cancer patients with BMs were included of which 24 were ≥65 years old and 88 were <65 years old. Median age at RT was 72 years (range 65-84) compared to 52 years (31-64) in younger patients. There were significantly higher number of older women with ER/PR positive disease (75% vs. 49%, p = 0.036), while younger patients were more frequently triple negative (32% vs. 12%, p = 0.074) and HER2 positive (42% vs. 29%, p = 0.3). Treatment-related adverse events were similar in both groups. Overall, 14.3% patients had any grade radiation necrosis (RN) (older vs. young: 8.3% vs. 16%, p = 0.5) while 5.4% had grade 3 or higher RN (0% vs. 6.8%, p = 0.7). Median OS after RT was poorer in older patients compared to younger patients (9.5 months vs. 14.5 months, p = 0.037), while intracranial PFS from RT was similar between the two groups (9.7 months vs. 7.1 months, p = 0.580). On univariate analysis, significant predictors of OS were age ≥65 years old (hazard risk, HR = 1.70, p = 0.048), KPS ≤ 80 (HR = 2.24, p < 0.001), HER2 positive disease (HR = 0.46, p < 0.001), isolated CNS metastatic disease (HR = 0.29, p < 0.001), number of brain metastases treated with RT (HR = 1.06, p = 0.028), and fractionated SRS (HR = 0.53, p = 0.013). On multivariable analysis, KPS ≤ 80, HER2 negativity and higher number of brain metastases predicted for poorer survival, while age was not a significant factor for OS after adjusting for other variables. Patients who received systemic therapy after SRS had a significantly improved OS on univariate and multivariable analysis (HR = 0.32, p < 0.001). Number of brain metastases treated was the only factor predictive of worse PFS (HR = 1.06, p = 0.041), which implies a 6% additive risk of progression for every additional metastasis treated. CONCLUSIONS Although older women had poorer OS than younger women, OS was similar after adjusting for KPS, extracranial progression, and systemic therapy; and there was no difference in rates of intracranial PFS, neurological deaths, and LMD in the different age groups. This study suggests that age alone may not play an independent role in treatment-selection and that outcomes for breast cancer patients with BMs and personalized decision-making including other clinical factors should be considered. Future studies are warranted to assess neurocognitive outcomes and other radiation treatment toxicities in older patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rituraj Upadhyay
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (R.U.); (H.K.P.); (S.R.J.); (D.M.B.); (J.C.G.); (A.A.); (M.A.M.-V.); (E.M.T.); (A.C.); (R.R.R.); (J.D.P.)
| | - Brett G. Klamer
- Department of Biostatistics, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
| | - Haley K. Perlow
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (R.U.); (H.K.P.); (S.R.J.); (D.M.B.); (J.C.G.); (A.A.); (M.A.M.-V.); (E.M.T.); (A.C.); (R.R.R.); (J.D.P.)
| | - Julia R. White
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66103, USA;
| | - Jose G. Bazan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA;
| | - Sachin R. Jhawar
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (R.U.); (H.K.P.); (S.R.J.); (D.M.B.); (J.C.G.); (A.A.); (M.A.M.-V.); (E.M.T.); (A.C.); (R.R.R.); (J.D.P.)
| | - Dukagjin M. Blakaj
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (R.U.); (H.K.P.); (S.R.J.); (D.M.B.); (J.C.G.); (A.A.); (M.A.M.-V.); (E.M.T.); (A.C.); (R.R.R.); (J.D.P.)
| | - John C. Grecula
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (R.U.); (H.K.P.); (S.R.J.); (D.M.B.); (J.C.G.); (A.A.); (M.A.M.-V.); (E.M.T.); (A.C.); (R.R.R.); (J.D.P.)
| | - Andrea Arnett
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (R.U.); (H.K.P.); (S.R.J.); (D.M.B.); (J.C.G.); (A.A.); (M.A.M.-V.); (E.M.T.); (A.C.); (R.R.R.); (J.D.P.)
| | - Mariella A. Mestres-Villanueva
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (R.U.); (H.K.P.); (S.R.J.); (D.M.B.); (J.C.G.); (A.A.); (M.A.M.-V.); (E.M.T.); (A.C.); (R.R.R.); (J.D.P.)
| | - Erin H. Healy
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA;
| | - Evan M. Thomas
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (R.U.); (H.K.P.); (S.R.J.); (D.M.B.); (J.C.G.); (A.A.); (M.A.M.-V.); (E.M.T.); (A.C.); (R.R.R.); (J.D.P.)
| | - Arnab Chakravarti
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (R.U.); (H.K.P.); (S.R.J.); (D.M.B.); (J.C.G.); (A.A.); (M.A.M.-V.); (E.M.T.); (A.C.); (R.R.R.); (J.D.P.)
| | - Raju R. Raval
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (R.U.); (H.K.P.); (S.R.J.); (D.M.B.); (J.C.G.); (A.A.); (M.A.M.-V.); (E.M.T.); (A.C.); (R.R.R.); (J.D.P.)
| | - Maryam Lustberg
- Department of Medical Oncology, Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT 06511, USA;
| | - Nicole O. Williams
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
| | - Joshua D. Palmer
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (R.U.); (H.K.P.); (S.R.J.); (D.M.B.); (J.C.G.); (A.A.); (M.A.M.-V.); (E.M.T.); (A.C.); (R.R.R.); (J.D.P.)
| | - Sasha J. Beyer
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (R.U.); (H.K.P.); (S.R.J.); (D.M.B.); (J.C.G.); (A.A.); (M.A.M.-V.); (E.M.T.); (A.C.); (R.R.R.); (J.D.P.)
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Wu Q, He L, Luo J, Jin W, Xu Y, Wang C. Long‑term remission under Disitamab Vedotin (RC48) in HR‑positive/HER2‑positive metastatic breast cancer with brain meningeal, and bone marrow involvement: A case report. Oncol Lett 2022; 24:339. [PMID: 36039062 PMCID: PMC9404700 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2022.13459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) with overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is closely associated with an elevated risk of multiple distant metastases and unfavorable prognosis. Disitamab Vedotin (RC48) is a newly developed antibody-drug conjugate targeting HER2, which is comprised of hertuzumab coupled to monomethyl auristatin E via a cleavable linker. Pre-clinical studies indicated its strong anti-tumor activity in HER2-positive and low HER2 expression models of BC. The present study reported on the case of a 60-year-old postmenopausal female who suffered from fatigue and was diagnosed with a right-sided BC tumor. The diagnosis was stage IV (cT4N3M1) hormone receptor (HR)-positive and HER2-positive invasive ductal carcinoma with systemic metastases (brain included). The patient initially responded well to 26 cycles of the first-line anti-HER2 targeted therapy plus chemotherapy (trastuzumab+pertuzumab+nab-paclitaxel) combined with whole-brain radiotherapy. However, both extracranial and intracranial lesions achieved progressive disease (PD), which eventually occurred during 5 sequential cycles of maintenance therapy. Subsequently, 4 cycles of second-line treatment (trastuzumab + pyrotinib + capecitabin) were continued until the levels of blood tumor markers CEA, CA15-3 and CA125 were elevated, and systemic PD was able to be attained (the brain metastases were rated as stable disease). Finally, the patient received RC48 as the third-line therapy and achieved a durable and effective clinical response. To date, the patient has benefited from 12 cycles of RC48 without any severe adverse effects. The overall survival was >3 years. The present study showcased that RC48 was effective and tolerable for a patient with HR- and HER2-positive BMBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qifeng Wu
- School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200127, P.R. China
| | - Lina He
- Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, P.R. China
| | - Jing Luo
- Department of Oncology, Minhang Branch, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201100, P.R. China
| | - Wen Jin
- Department of Oncology, Minhang Branch, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201100, P.R. China
| | - Yingchun Xu
- Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, P.R. China
| | - Chen Wang
- Department of Oncology, Minhang Branch, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201100, P.R. China
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Cai SL, Wang ZH, Chen XG, Han L, Gong GX, Chen YP, Lin XQ, Ma T, Chen HD. Risk Factors of Brain Metastasis and Prognosis in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: A Single-Institution Retrospective Analysis from China. Front Oncol 2022; 12:905065. [PMID: 35832552 PMCID: PMC9271963 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.905065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundBrain metastasis (BM) frequently occurs in HER2-positive breast cancer (BC) patients, but the risk factors of BM in this type of patients are still unknown. Our study aims to assess the risk factors of BM and prognostic analysis in HER2-positive BC patients.MethodsUnivariate analysis used t-test, chi-square test, and Fisher’s exact test to find out the risk factors for BM, and multivariable analysis was done with stepwise logistic regression analysis. Prognostic data analysis was estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method.ResultsA total of 228 HER2-positive BC patients were included, of whom 214 patients were postoperative metastatic patients and 14 patients were de novo stage IV patients. Through comparing the stratified variables between 51 postoperative metastatic patients with BM and 163 postoperative metastatic patients without BM, the multivariate analysis showed that age ≤40 years (OR 2.321, 95% CI: 1.089 to 4.948) and first metastatic site with lung metastasis (OR 2.168, 95% CI: 1.099 to 4.274) were independent risk factors for BM in HER2-positive BC patients. Prognostic data of all 65 HER2-positive BC patients with BM showed that the time from the diagnosis of BC to the development of breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM) was 36.3 months (95% CI: 30.0 to 42.1 months). The time from the diagnosis of first recurrence and metastasis stage to the diagnosis of BCBM was 11.35 months (95% CI: 7.1 to 18.4 months). The time from the diagnosis of BCBM to the time of follow-up was 24.1 months (95% CI: 13.9 to 37.5 months). Up until the time of follow-up data, a total of 38 patients had died, and the time from the diagnosis of BM of these 38 patients to death was 11.0 months (95% CI: 9.0 to 20.4 months).ConclusionThe prognosis of HER2-positive BC patients with BM was poor due to the lack of effective treatments for BM. Age ≤40 years and first metastatic site with lung metastasis were the independent risk factors for BM in HER2-positive BC patients. Future research about pre-emptive medical interventions may help to improve the prognosis of HER2-positive BC patients with high risk to develop BM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang-Long Cai
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Provincial Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhi-Hong Wang
- Department of Hematology, Provincial Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Geng Chen
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Provincial Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Lei Han
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Provincial Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Guo-Xian Gong
- Department of UItrasonic Diagnosis, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yan-Ping Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Provincial Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiu-Quan Lin
- Department for Chronic and Noncommunicable Disease Control and Prevention, Fujian Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Fuzhou, China
| | - Tao Ma
- Third Department of Breast Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Medical University, Ministry of Education, Tianjin, China
| | - Hong-Dan Chen
- First Department of Cadre Clinic, Provincial Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Hong-Dan Chen,
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Gao YK, Kuksis M, Id Said B, Chehade R, Kiss A, Tran W, Sickandar F, Sahgal A, Warner E, Soliman H, Jerzak KJ. Treatment Patterns and Outcomes of Women with Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Breast Cancer Brain Metastases: A Single-Center Retrospective Study. Oncologist 2021; 26:e1951-e1961. [PMID: 34506676 DOI: 10.1002/onco.13965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide and the second leading cause of brain metastases (BrM). We assessed the treatment patterns and outcomes of women treated for breast cancer BrM at our institution in the modern era of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of women (≥18 years of age) with metastatic breast cancer who were treated with surgery, whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT), or SRS to the brain at the Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada, between 2008 and 2018. Patients with a history of other malignancies and those with an uncertain date of diagnosis of BrM were excluded. Descriptive statistics were generated and survival analyses were performed with subgroup analyses by breast cancer subtype. RESULTS Among 683 eligible patients, 153 (22.4%) had triple-negative breast cancer, 188 (27.5%) had HER2+, 246 (36.0%) had hormone receptor (HR)+/HER2-, and 61 (13.3%) had breast cancer of an unknown subtype. The majority of patients received first-line WBRT (n = 459, 67.2%) or SRS (n = 126, 18.4%). The median brain-specific progression-free survival and median overall survival (OS) were 4.1 months (interquartile range [IQR] 1.0-9.6 months) and 5.1 months (IQR 2.0-11.7 months) in the overall patent population, respectively. Age >60 years, presence of neurological symptoms at BrM diagnosis, first-line WBRT, and HER2- subtype were independently prognostic for shorter OS. CONCLUSION Despite the use of SRS, outcomes among patients with breast cancer BrM remain poor. Strategies for early detection of BrM and central nervous system-active systemic therapies warrant further investigation. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Although triple-negative breast cancer and HER2+ breast cancer have a predilection for metastasis to the central nervous system (CNS), patients with hormone receptor-positive/HER2- breast cancer represent a high proportion of patients with breast cancer brain metastases (BrM). Hence, clinical trials should include patients with BrM and evaluate CNS-specific activity of novel systemic therapies when feasible, irrespective of breast cancer subtype. In addition, given that symptomatic BrM are associated with shorter survival, this study suggests that screening programs for the early detection and treatment of breast cancer BrM warrant further investigation in an era of minimally toxic stereotactic radiosurgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhuo Kelly Gao
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Markus Kuksis
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Badr Id Said
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rania Chehade
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alex Kiss
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - William Tran
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Faisal Sickandar
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Arjun Sahgal
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ellen Warner
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hany Soliman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Katarzyna J Jerzak
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Gupta N, Srivastava SK. Atovaquone Suppresses the Growth of Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Tumors in Lungs and Brain by Inhibiting Integrin/FAK Signaling Axis. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14060521. [PMID: 34071408 PMCID: PMC8229709 DOI: 10.3390/ph14060521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is considered to be the most aggressive and malignant neoplasm and is highly metastatic in nature. In the current study, we investigated the anti-metastatic potential of atovaquone, a protozoal drug prescribed for Pneumocystis pneumonia. We showed that atovaquone induced apoptosis and reduced the survival of several aggressive metastatic TNBC cell lines including metastatic patient-derived cells by reducing the expression of integrin α6, integrin β4, FAK, Src, and Vimentin. In order to study the efficacy of atovaquone in suppressing metastasized breast tumor cells in brain and lungs, we performed three in vivo experiments. We demonstrated that oral administration of 50 mg/kg of atovaquone suppressed MDA-MB-231 breast tumor growth by 90% in lungs in an intravenous metastatic tumor model. Anti-metastatic effect of atovaquone was further determined by intracardiac injection of 4T1-luc breast tumor cells into the left ventricle of mouse heart. Our results showed that atovaquone treatment suppressed the growth of metastatic tumors in lungs, liver and brain by 70%, 50% and 30% respectively. In an intracranial model, the growth of HCC1806-luc brain tumors in atovaquone treated mice was about 55% less than that of control. Taken together, our results indicate the anti-metastatic effects of atovaquone in vitro and in vivo in various breast tumor metastasis models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nehal Gupta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA;
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
| | - Sanjay K. Srivastava
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA;
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-325-696-0464
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Validation and comparison of Breast Graded Prognostic Assessment scores in patients with breast cancer and brain metastases. Clin Transl Oncol 2021; 23:1761-1768. [PMID: 33704689 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-021-02577-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Brain metastases (BM) occur in 15-35% of patients with metastatic breast cancer, conferring poor prognosis and impairing quality of life. Clinical scores have been developed to classify patients according to their prognosis. We aimed to check the utility of the Breast Graded Prognostic Assessment (B-GPA) and its modified version (mB-GPA) and compare them in routine clinical practice. METHODS This is an ambispective study including all patients with breast cancer BM treated in a single cancer comprehensive center. We analyzed the overall survival (OS) from BM diagnosis until death. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard regression model were used in the analyses. ROC curves were performed to compare both scores. RESULTS We included 169 patients; median age was 50 years. HER2-positive and triple negative patients were 33.7% and 20.7%, respectively. At the last follow-up, 90% of the patients had died. Median OS was 12 months (95% confidence interval 8.0-16.0 months). OS was worse in patients with > 3 BM and in patients with triple negative subtype. CONCLUSIONS In our series, we confirm that B-GPA and mB-GPA scores correlated with prognosis. ROC curves showed that B-GPA and mB-GPA have similar prognostic capabilities, slightly in favor of mB-GPA.
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Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt for CNS Metastasis in Breast Cancer: Clinical Outcomes Based on Intrinsic Subtype. Clin Breast Cancer 2021; 21:e402-e414. [PMID: 33526378 DOI: 10.1016/j.clbc.2020.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) is associated with a grave prognosis in breast cancer (BC) and can be controlled with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS). Information regarding LM and VPS based on intrinsic subtype is limited; thus, we investigated the clinical outcomes of BC treated with VPS. PATIENTS AND METHODS The present retrospective study comprised 70 patients diagnosed with LM who received a VPS. The patients were divided into 4 groups based on BC subtype: hormone receptor (HR)+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-, HR+/HER2+, HR-/HER2+, and triple negative BC (TNBC). RESULTS The most common indications for VPS were uncontrolled intracranial pressure (57.1%) and uncontrolled headache (55.7%), which improved in 54 (77.1%) of 70 patients after VPS. The median overall survival (OS) after brain or LM and overall survival after VPS were 7.6 and 2.3 months, respectively. Anti-HER2 treatment was a significant prognostic factor for better OS after brain or LM based on multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 0.15; 95% confidence interval, 0.04-0.57; P = .005), whereas TNBC was correlated with shorter OS after central nervous system metastasis (hazard ratio, 2.82; 95% confidence interval, 1.46-5.48; P = .002). CONCLUSIONS There were significant differences in clinical outcome based on the intrinsic subtype of patients with BC with LM who received a VPS. Anti-HER2 treatment in patients with HER2+ BC was associated with better survival in patients with metastatic BC with VPS insertion compared with those without. Survival of metastatic BC with VPS remained poor, especially in the TNBC subgroup.
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Thakkar JP, Prabhu VC, Rouse S, Lukas RV. Acute Neurological Complications of Brain Tumors and Immune Therapies, a Guideline for the Neuro-hospitalist. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2020; 20:32. [PMID: 32596758 DOI: 10.1007/s11910-020-01056-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Patients with brain tumors presenting to the emergency room with acute neurologic complications may warrant urgent investigations and emergent management. As the neuro-hospitalist will likely encounter this complex patient population, an understanding of the acute neurologic issues will have value. RECENT FINDINGS We discuss updated information and management regarding various acute neurologic complications among neuro-oncology patients and neurologic complications of immunotherapy. Understanding of the acute neurologic complications associated with central nervous system tumors and with common contemporary cancer treatments will facilitate the neuro-hospitalist management of these patient populations. While there are aspects analogous to the diagnosis and management in the non-oncologic population, a number of unique features discussed in this review should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jigisha P Thakkar
- Department of Neurology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 S. 1st Avenue, Bldg 105, Room 2700, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA. .,Department of Neurosurgery, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, 2160 S. 1st Avenue, Bldg 105, Room 1900, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA.
| | - Vikram C Prabhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, 2160 S. 1st Avenue, Bldg 105, Room 1900, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA
| | - Stasia Rouse
- Department of Neurology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 S. 1st Avenue, Bldg 105, Room 2700, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA
| | - Rimas V Lukas
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 710 N. Lake Shore Drive, Abbott Hall 1114, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.,Lou and Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
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Komorowski AS, Warner E, MacKay HJ, Sahgal A, Pritchard KI, Jerzak KJ. Incidence of Brain Metastases in Nonmetastatic and Metastatic Breast Cancer: Is There a Role for Screening? Clin Breast Cancer 2019; 20:e54-e64. [PMID: 31447286 DOI: 10.1016/j.clbc.2019.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2018] [Revised: 03/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current National Comprehensive Cancer Network and American Society of Clinical Oncology guidelines recommend against screening breast cancer patients for asymptomatic brain metastases. Because brain metastases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality from breast cancer, we undertook a literature review to ascertain whether there might be a role for brain metastases screening in high-risk patient subgroups. MATERIALS AND METHODS A literature search was conducted on the OvidSP platform in the MedLine database, using MeSH terms and subject headings related to breast cancer, brain metastases, and incidence. The search was conducted without language or publication restrictions, and included articles indexed from January 1, 2006 to June 10, 2018. Experimental and observational studies that reported the incidence of brain metastases in patients with nonmetastatic or metastatic breast cancer were included. RESULTS One hundred seventy studies were identified, with 33 included in the final analysis. Among nonmetastatic breast cancer patients, incidence of brain metastases as site of first recurrence per year of median follow-up ranged from 0.1% to 3.2%. Although incidence of brain metastases was much higher among the metastatic breast cancer population overall, it was particularly high among metastatic HER2-overexpressing (HER2+) and triple-negative populations, ranging between 22% and 36% for the former, and 15%-37% for the latter in the absence of screening. CONCLUSION In patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer, screening for asymptomatic brain metastases cannot currently be justified. However, due to the high incidence of brain metastases among patients with metastatic HER2+ and triple-negative breast cancer, studies to determine the value of screening for brain metastases should be undertaken in these subgroups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam S Komorowski
- Division of Medical Microbiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ellen Warner
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Helen J MacKay
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Arjun Sahgal
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kathleen I Pritchard
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Katarzyna J Jerzak
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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10
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Singhal J, Singhal P, Horne D, Salgia R, Awasthi S, Singhal SS. Metastasis of breast tumor cells to brain is suppressed by targeting RLIP alone and in combination with 2'-Hydroxyflavanone. Cancer Lett 2018; 438:144-153. [PMID: 30223070 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Brain metastasis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer-patients. Breast tumor cells frequently metastasize to brain and initiate severe therapeutic complications. In the present study, we evaluated the anti-metastatic effects of 2'-hydroxyflavanone (2HF) alone and in combination with RLIP targeted therapy in a novel murine model of breast tumor metastasis. The MDA-MB231Br (brain-seeking) breast cancer (BC) cells stably-transfected with luciferase were injected into the left-ventricle of NSG mouse heart and the migration of cells to brain was monitored using a non-invasive bioluminescent imaging system. To evaluate the tumor growth suppressive effects, mice were given 2HF (50 mg/kg, b.w., alternate days orally), RLIP-antibody (Rab; 5 mg/kg, b.w., weekly i.p.) or combination of 2HF+Rab starting day1 after intra-cardiac injection. Our results reveal that 2HF and Rab significantly prevented the metastasis of BC cells to brain. Further, mice treated with combination of 2HF+Rab exhibited no metastasis as compared to either or the single agent-treated mice. This study for the first time demonstrates the anti-metastatic effects of 2HF and RLIP-inhibition in-vivo in a novel breast tumor metastasis model and provides the rationale for further clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyotsana Singhal
- Department of Medical Oncology, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA; Department of Molecular Medicine, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Preeti Singhal
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - David Horne
- Department of Molecular Medicine, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Ravi Salgia
- Department of Medical Oncology, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Sanjay Awasthi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, 79430, USA
| | - Sharad S Singhal
- Department of Medical Oncology, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA.
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11
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Lai SF, Chen YH, Liang THK, Hsu CY, Lien HC, Lu YS, Huang CS, Kuo SH. The breast graded prognostic assessment is associated with the survival outcomes in breast cancer patients receiving whole brain re-irradiation. J Neurooncol 2018; 138:637-647. [PMID: 29557535 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-018-2833-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 02/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Whole brain (WB) re-irradiation for breast cancer patients with progressive brain metastasis after first-course WB radiotherapy (WBRT) is controversial. In this study, we sought to investigate the association between the molecular sub-classifications and breast-specific Graded Prognostic Assessment (GPA, which includes the Karnofsky performance status, molecular subtypes, and age as its indices) and the outcomes of breast cancer patients who received WB re-irradiation. METHODS Twenty-three breast cancer patients who received WB re-irradiation for relapsed and progressive intracranial lesions after first-course WBRT between 2004 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided according to the 4 molecular subtypes of luminal A/B (hormone receptor [HR]+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 [HER2]-), luminal HER2 (HR+/HER2+), HER2 (HR-/HER2+), and triple negative (HR-/HER2-). The clinical and radiological responses and survival rates after WB re-irradiation were analyzed. RESULTS At 1 month after WB re-irradiation, 13 of 23 patients (56.5%) exhibited disappearance or alleviation of neurological symptoms. The median survival time after WB re-irradiation was 2.93 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.79-4.08). After WB re-irradiation, patients with HER2-negative tumors had poorer median survival times than those with HER2-positive tumors (2.23 vs. 3.0 months, respectively; p = 0.022). Furthermore, patients with high breast GPA scores (2.5-4.0, n = 11) had longer median survivals than those with low-scores (0-2.0, n = 12) after WB re-irradiation (4.37 vs. 1.57 months, respectively; p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS WB re-irradiation may be a feasible treatment option for certain breast cancer patients who develop brain metastatic lesions after first-course WBRT when these lesions are ineligible for radiosurgery or surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shih-Fan Lai
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Hsuan Chen
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tony Hsiang-Kuang Liang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Che-Yu Hsu
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Huang-Chun Lien
- Department of Pathology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Sen Lu
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,National Taiwan University Cancer Center, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chiun-Sheng Huang
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Sung-Hsin Kuo
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. .,National Taiwan University Cancer Center, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. .,Cancer Research Center, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. .,Graduate Institute of Oncology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
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12
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Oltean D, Dicu T, Eniu D. Brain Metastases Secondary to Breast Cancer: Symptoms, Prognosis and Evolution. TUMORI JOURNAL 2018; 95:697-701. [DOI: 10.1177/030089160909500610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Aims and Background Brain metastases confer a worse prognosis to breast cancer because they determine a severe increase in mortality. The aim of this study was to identify the early symptoms in patients with brain metastases after breast cancer treatment and to evaluate the median survival rate in women with single and operable brain lesions. Patients and Methods We examined 43 patients with brain metastases secondary to breast cancer treated in the Oncological Institute Prof I Chiricuţă, Cluj-Napoca, during the period 2000-2006. Results The median interval between the breast cancer diagnosis and detection of central nervous metastases was 21 months. The most frequent symptoms were headache, gait disturbance, nausea and vomiting. Patients with a single brain lesion had a median survival of 23 months compared to only 7 months in case of patients with multiple brain metastases. Conclusions The prognosis is worse in patients with solitary brain metastases secondary to breast cancer than in patients who present extracranial metastases. Among factors considered favorable in these patients are a single brain lesion, accessibility to surgery, and the absence of associated extracranial metastases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tiberius Dicu
- “Babes-Bolyai” University, Faculty of Environmental Science
| | - Dan Eniu
- Department of Surgical Oncology, UMPh “I. Haţieganu”, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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13
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Piccirilli M, Sassun TE, Brogna C, Giangaspero F, Salvati M. Late Brain Metastases from Breast Cancer: Clinical Remarks on 11 Patients and Review of the Literature. TUMORI JOURNAL 2018; 93:150-4. [PMID: 17557561 DOI: 10.1177/030089160709300207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Aims and Background Late brain metastases from breast cancer are a rare event. Only a few cases have been reported in the English literature. The authors describe the clinical and pathological remarks, together with treatment modalities, removal extent and overall survival, of 11 patients in whom brain metastases were detected more than 10 years from the primary tumor. Patients and Methods Between January 1997 and April 2001, we hospitalized 11 patients, all females, with a histologically proven diagnosis of brain metastasis from breast invasive ductal carcinoma. We defined ‘late metastasis’ as those metastases that appeared at least 10 years after the breast cancer diagnosis. The median age at the moment of brain metastasis diagnosis was 59 years (range, 47-70), with a median latency time from breast cancer diagnosis of 16 years (range, 11-30). Results Ten patients underwent surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy (whole brain radiotherapy). Two of them received, after whole brain radiotherapy, stereotaxic radio surgery treatment. One patient had stereotaxic brain biopsy, performed by neuronavigator, followed by palliative corticosteroid therapy. Median survival after brain metastasis diagnosis was 28 months (range, 3 months-4 years). Conclusions Although late brain metastases are a rare event, specific neurologic symptoms and neuroradiological evidence of a cerebral neoplasm should be correlated to the presence of a cerebral metastasis, in a patient with a previous history of breast cancer. The longer latency time from breast cancer to brain metastasis could be explained by the “clonal dominance” theory and by different genetic alterations of the metastatic cell, which could influence the clinical history of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manolo Piccirilli
- Departments of Neurosurgical Sciences-Neurosurgery, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
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14
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Frisk G, Tinge B, Ekberg S, Eloranta S, Bäcklund LM, Lidbrink E, Smedby KE. Survival and level of care among breast cancer patients with brain metastases treated with whole brain radiotherapy. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2017; 166:887-896. [PMID: 28831636 PMCID: PMC5680371 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-017-4466-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Purpose The benefit of whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for late stage breast cancer patients with brain metastases has been questioned. In this study we evaluated survival and level of care (hospital or home) following WBRT in a population-based cohort by personal and tumor characteristics. Methods We identified 241 consecutive patients with breast cancer and brain metastases receiving WBRT in Stockholm, Sweden, 1999–2012. Through review of medical records, we collected data on prognostic determinants including level of care before and after WBRT. Survival was estimated using Cox regression, and odds ratios (OR) of not coming home using logistic regression. Results Median age at WBRT was 58 years (range 30--–88 years). Most patients (n = 212, 88%) were treated with 4 Gray × 5. Median survival following WBRT was 2.9 months (interquartile range 1.1–6.6 months), and 57 patients (24%) were never discharged from hospital. Poor performance status and triple-negative tumors were associated with short survival (WHO 3–4 median survival 0.9 months, HR = 5.96 (3.88–9.17) versus WHO 0–1; triple-negative tumors median survival 2.0 months, HR = 1.87 (1.23–2.84) versus Luminal A). Poor performance status and being hospitalized before WBRT were associated with increased ORs of not coming home whereas cohabitation with children at home was protective. Conclusion Survival was short following WBRT, and one in four breast cancer patients with brain metastases could never be discharged from hospital. When deciding about WBRT, WHO score, level of care before WBRT, and the patient’s choice of level of care in the end-of-life period should be considered. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10549-017-4466-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Frisk
- Department of Medicine Solna, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Karolinska Institute Solna, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Beatrice Tinge
- Department of Medicine Solna, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Karolinska Institute Solna, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sara Ekberg
- Department of Medicine Solna, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Karolinska Institute Solna, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sandra Eloranta
- Department of Medicine Solna, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Karolinska Institute Solna, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - L Magnus Bäcklund
- Department of Medicine Solna, Unit for Experimental Cardiovascular Research, Karolinska Institute Solna, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elisabet Lidbrink
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karin E Smedby
- Department of Medicine Solna, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Karolinska Institute Solna, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
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15
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Dong T, Liu Z, Xuan Q, Wang Z, Ma W, Zhang Q. Tumor LDH-A expression and serum LDH status are two metabolic predictors for triple negative breast cancer brain metastasis. Sci Rep 2017; 7:6069. [PMID: 28729678 PMCID: PMC5519725 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-06378-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
There are limited therapeutic methods for triple negative breast cancer in the clinic, which is easy to progress into the brain to form metastatic lesions and evolve into the terminal stage. Because both the primary cancer and the brain metastasis have high glycolysis, we hypothesize that lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which catalyzes the final step of glycolysis, may be a predictor, as well as a treatment target, for breast cancer brain metastasis. Therefore, the expression of LDH-A was detected on 119 triple negative breast cancer tissues with immunohistochemistry, and the serum LDH levels were also measured. Our results showed that the LDH-A expression inside the tumor was significantly higher than the matched normal tissues. Tumor LDH-A expression, serum LDH status, and the slope of serum LDH status were closely associated with triple negative breast cancer brain metastasis and brain metastasis free survival. This study indicates that tumor LDH and serum LDH status are two predictors for triple negative breast cancer brain metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tieying Dong
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Haping Road 150 of Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, China
| | - Zhaoliang Liu
- Cancer Research Institute, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.,Cancer Research Institute of Heilongjiang, Harbin, China
| | - Qijia Xuan
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Haping Road 150 of Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, China
| | - Zhuozhong Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Wenjie Ma
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Haping Road 150 of Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, China
| | - Qingyuan Zhang
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Haping Road 150 of Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, China.
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16
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Cortés J, Rugo HS, Awada A, Twelves C, Perez EA, Im SA, Gómez-Pardo P, Schwartzberg LS, Diéras V, Yardley DA, Potter DA, Mailliez A, Moreno-Aspitia A, Ahn JS, Zhao C, Hoch U, Tagliaferri M, Hannah AL, O'Shaughnessy J. Prolonged survival in patients with breast cancer and a history of brain metastases: results of a preplanned subgroup analysis from the randomized phase III BEACON trial. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2017; 165:329-341. [PMID: 28612225 PMCID: PMC5543189 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-017-4304-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Conventional chemotherapy has limited activity in patients with breast cancer and brain metastases (BCBM). Etirinotecan pegol (EP), a novel long-acting topoisomerase-1 inhibitor, was designed using advanced polymer technology to preferentially accumulate in tumor tissue including brain metastases, providing sustained cytotoxic SN38 levels. Methods The phase 3 BEACON trial enrolled 852 women with heavily pretreated locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer between 2011 and 2013. BEACON compared EP with treatment of physician’s choice (TPC; eribulin, vinorelbine, gemcitabine, nab-paclitaxel, paclitaxel, ixabepilone, or docetaxel) in patients previously treated with anthracycline, taxane, and capecitabine, including those with treated, stable brain metastases. The primary endpoint, overall survival (OS), was assessed in a pre-defined subgroup of BCBM patients; an exploratory post hoc analysis adjusting for the diagnosis-specific graded prognostic assessment (GPA) index was also conducted. Results In the trial, 67 BCBM patients were randomized (EP, n = 36; TPC, n = 31). Treatment subgroups were balanced for baseline characteristics and GPA indices. EP was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of death (HR 0.51; P < 0.01) versus TPC; median OS was 10.0 and 4.8 months, respectively. Improvement in OS was observed in both poorer and better GPA prognostic groups. Survival rates at 12 months were 44.4% for EP versus 19.4% for TPC. Consistent with the overall BEACON population, fewer patients on EP experienced grade ≥3 toxicity (50 vs. 70%). Conclusions The significant improvement in survival in BCBM patients provides encouraging data for EP in this difficult-to-treat subgroup of patients. A phase three trial of EP in BCBM patients is underway (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02915744). Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10549-017-4304-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Cortés
- Ramon y Cajal University Hospital, Madrid, Spain, and Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Hope S Rugo
- University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ahmad Awada
- Medical Oncology Clinic, Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Chris Twelves
- Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology and St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | | | - Seock-Ah Im
- Seoul National University Hospital, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | | | | | | | | | - David A Potter
- Department of Medicine, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | - Alvaro Moreno-Aspitia
- Ramon y Cajal University Hospital, Madrid, Spain, and Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jin-Seok Ahn
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Carol Zhao
- Nektar Therapeutics, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ute Hoch
- Nektar Therapeutics, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Joyce O'Shaughnessy
- Texas Oncology-Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center/U.S. Oncology, 3410 Worth Street, Suite 400, Dallas, TX, 75246, USA.
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17
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Teplinsky E, Esteva FJ. Systemic Therapy for HER2-Positive Central Nervous System Disease: Where We Are and Where Do We Go From Here? Curr Oncol Rep 2015; 17:46. [DOI: 10.1007/s11912-015-0471-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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18
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Lin NU, Amiri-Kordestani L, Palmieri D, Liewehr DJ, Steeg PS. CNS metastases in breast cancer: old challenge, new frontiers. Clin Cancer Res 2014; 19:6404-18. [PMID: 24298071 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-13-0790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Despite major therapeutic advances in the management of patients with breast cancer, central nervous system (CNS) metastases remain an intractable problem, particularly in patients with metastatic HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer. As systemic therapies to treat extracranial disease improve, some patients are surviving longer, and the frequency of CNS involvement seems to be increasing. Furthermore, in the early-stage setting, the CNS remains a potential sanctuary site for relapse. This review highlights advances in the development of biologically relevant preclinical models, including the development of brain-tropic cell lines for testing of agents to prevent and treat brain metastases, and summarizes our current understanding of the biology of CNS relapse. From a clinical perspective, a variety of therapeutic approaches are discussed, including methods to improve drug delivery, novel cytotoxic agents, and targeted therapies. Challenges in current trial design and endpoints are reviewed. Finally, we discuss promising new directions, including novel trial designs, correlative imaging techniques, and enhanced translational opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy U Lin
- Authors' Affiliations: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Medical Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute; Women's Cancers Section, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology; and Biostatistics and Data Management Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
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19
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Rudat V, El-Sweilmeen H, Brune-Erber I, Nour AA, Almasri N, Altuwaijri S, Fadel E. Identification of breast cancer patients with a high risk of developing brain metastases: a single-institutional retrospective analysis. BMC Cancer 2014; 14:289. [PMID: 24761771 PMCID: PMC4006960 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-14-289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2013] [Accepted: 04/22/2014] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The objective of this study was to identify breast cancer patients with a high risk of developing brain metastases who may benefit from pre-emptive medical intervention. Methods Medical records of 352 breast cancer patients with local or locoregional disease at diagnosis were retrospectively analysed. The brain metastasis-free survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and patient groups were compared using the log rank test. The simultaneous relationship of multiple prognostic factors was assessed using Cox’s proportional hazard regression analysis. The Fisher exact test was used to test the difference of proportions for statistical significance. Results On univariate analysis, statistically highly significant unfavourable risk factors for the brain metastasis-free survival were negative ER status, negative PR status, and triple negative tumor subtype. Young age at diagnosis (≤35 years) and advanced disease stage were not statistically significant (p = 0.10). On multivariate analysis, the only independent significant factor was the ER status (negative ER status; hazard radio (95% confidence interval), 5.1 (1.8-14.6); p = 0.003). In the subgroup of 168 patients with a minimum follow-up of 24 months, 49 patients developed extracranial metastases as first metastatic event. Of those, 7 of 15 (46.6%) with a negative ER status developed brain metastases compared to 5 of 34 (14.7%) with a positive ER status (Fisher exact test, p = 0.03). The median time interval (minimum-maximum) between the diagnosis of extracranial and brain metastases was 7.5 months (1-30 months). Conclusions Breast cancer patients with extracranial metastasis and negative ER status exhibited an almost 50% risk of developing brain metastasis during their course of disease. Future studies are highly desired to evaluate the efficacy of pre-emptive medical intervention such as prophylactic treatment or diagnostic screening for high risk breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volker Rudat
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Saad Specialist Hospital, P,O, Box 30353, Al Khobar 31952, Saudi Arabia.
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20
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Owonikoko TK, Arbiser J, Zelnak A, Shu HKG, Shim H, Robin AM, Kalkanis SN, Whitsett TG, Salhia B, Tran NL, Ryken T, Moore MK, Egan KM, Olson JJ. Current approaches to the treatment of metastatic brain tumours. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2014; 11:203-22. [PMID: 24569448 DOI: 10.1038/nrclinonc.2014.25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 192] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Metastatic tumours involving the brain overshadow primary brain neoplasms in frequency and are an important complication in the overall management of many cancers. Importantly, advances are being made in understanding the molecular biology underlying the initial development and eventual proliferation of brain metastases. Surgery and radiation remain the cornerstones of the therapy for symptomatic lesions; however, image-based guidance is improving surgical technique to maximize the preservation of normal tissue, while more sophisticated approaches to radiation therapy are being used to minimize the long-standing concerns over the toxicity of whole-brain radiation protocols used in the past. Furthermore, the burgeoning knowledge of tumour biology has facilitated the entry of systemically administered therapies into the clinic. Responses to these targeted interventions have ranged from substantial toxicity with no control of disease to periods of useful tumour control with no decrement in performance status of the treated individual. This experience enables recognition of the limits of targeted therapy, but has also informed methods to optimize this approach. This Review focuses on the clinically relevant molecular biology of brain metastases, and summarizes the current applications of these data to imaging, surgery, radiation therapy, cytotoxic chemotherapy and targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taofeek K Owonikoko
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Jack Arbiser
- Department of Dermatology, Atlanta Veterans Administration Medical Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Amelia Zelnak
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Hui-Kuo G Shu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Hyunsuk Shim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Adam M Robin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Health System, 2799 West Grand Boulevard, K-11, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Steven N Kalkanis
- Department of Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Health System, 2799 West Grand Boulevard, K-11, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Timothy G Whitsett
- Division of Cancer and Cell Biology, Translational Genomics Research Institute, 445 North 5th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Bodour Salhia
- Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute, 445 North 5th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Nhan L Tran
- Division of Cancer and Cell Biology, Translational Genomics Research Institute, 445 North 5th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Timothy Ryken
- Iowa Spine and Brain Institute, 2710 St Francis Drive, Suite 110, Waterloo, IA 50702, USA
| | - Michael K Moore
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Kathleen M Egan
- H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, University of South Florida, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Jeffrey J Olson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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21
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Renfrow JJ, Lesser GJ. Molecular Subtyping of Brain Metastases and Implications for Therapy. Curr Treat Options Oncol 2013; 14:514-27. [DOI: 10.1007/s11864-013-0248-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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22
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Gupta P, Adkins C, Lockman P, Srivastava SK. Metastasis of Breast Tumor Cells to Brain Is Suppressed by Phenethyl Isothiocyanate in a Novel In Vivo Metastasis Model. PLoS One 2013; 8:e67278. [PMID: 23826254 PMCID: PMC3695065 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2013] [Accepted: 05/16/2013] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast tumor metastasis is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Breast tumor cells frequently metastasize to brain and initiate severe therapeutic complications. The chances of brain metastasis are further elevated in patients with HER2 overexpression. In the current study, we evaluated the anti-metastatic effects of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) in a novel murine model of breast tumor metastasis. The MDA-MB-231-BR (BR-brain seeking) breast tumor cells stably transfected with luciferase were injected into the left ventricle of mouse heart and the migration of cells to brain was monitored using a non-invasive IVIS bio-luminescent imaging system. In order to study the efficacy of PEITC in preventing the number of tumor cells migrating to brain, mice were given 10 µmol PEITC by oral gavage for ten days prior to intra-cardiac injection of tumor cells labeled with quantum dots. To evaluate the tumor growth suppressive effects, 10 µmol PEITC was given to mice every day starting 14th day after intra-cardiac cell injection. Based on the presence of quantum dots in the brain section of control and treated mice, our results reveal that PEITC significantly prevented the metastasis of breast cancer cells to brain. Our results demonstrate that the growth of metastatic brain tumors in PEITC treated mice was about 50% less than that of control. According to Kaplan Meir’s curve, median survival of tumor bearing mice treated with PEITC was prolonged by 20.5%. Furthermore as compared to controls, we observed reduced HER2, EGFR and VEGF expression in the brain sections of PEITC treated mice. To the best of our knowledge, our study for the first time demonstrates the anti-metastatic effects of PEITC in vivo in a novel breast tumor metastasis model and provides the rationale for further clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parul Gupta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas, United States of America
- Cancer Biology Center, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas, United States of America
| | - Chris Adkins
- Cancer Biology Center, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas, United States of America
| | - Paul Lockman
- Cancer Biology Center, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas, United States of America
| | - Sanjay K. Srivastava
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas, United States of America
- Cancer Biology Center, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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23
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Lin NU. Breast cancer brain metastases: new directions in systemic therapy. Ecancermedicalscience 2013; 7:307. [PMID: 23662165 PMCID: PMC3646423 DOI: 10.3332/ecancer.2013.307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The management of patients with brain metastases from breast cancer continues to be a major clinical challenge. The standard initial therapeutic approach depends upon the size, location, and number of metastatic lesions and includes consideration of surgical resection, whole-brain radiotherapy, and stereotactic radiosurgery. As systemic therapies for control of extracranial disease improve, patients are surviving long enough to experience subsequent progression events in the brain. Therefore, there is an increasing need to identify both more effective initial treatments as well as to develop multiple lines of salvage treatments for patients with breast cancer brain metastases. This review summarises the clinical experience to date with respect to cytotoxic and targeted systemic therapies for the treatment of brain metastases, highlights ongoing and planned trials of novel approaches and identifies potential targets for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy U Lin
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
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24
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Rees GJ, Britton DC, Malcolm GP, Rees M. Surgery for widely disseminated breast cancer: prolonged control by excision of metastases. JRSM SHORT REPORTS 2012; 3:26. [PMID: 22715427 PMCID: PMC3375843 DOI: 10.1258/shorts.2012.011162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gareth Jg Rees
- Bath Clinic , Claverton Down Road, Combe Down, Bath, BA2 7BR , UK
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25
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McNally ME, Carson W. Occult Breast Cancer Presenting as Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis. World J Oncol 2012; 3:73-77. [PMID: 29147283 PMCID: PMC5649892 DOI: 10.4021/wjon408w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/02/2011] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LC) is a rare and devastating metastatic manifestation of both liquid and solid tumors consisting of dissemination of malignant cells with invasion into the meninges. Few options exist in most clinical situations, especially when LC is the presenting sign of occult malignancy. The prognosis is often poor with limited survival. Aims of palliation must be considered the primary goal for most patients. We report a case in which occult metastatic breast cancer presented with neurological symptoms from LC. We discuss diagnosing the primary malignancy when LC is the presenting manifestation as well as treatment, both palliative and cytoreductive. We also focus on those patients with breast cancer that are at highest risk of developing LC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E. McNally
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University, USA
| | - William Carson
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University, USA
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26
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Le Scodan R, Jouanneau L, Massard C, Gutierrez M, Kirova Y, Cherel P, Gachet J, Labib A, Mouret-Fourme E. Brain metastases from breast cancer: prognostic significance of HER-2 overexpression, effect of trastuzumab and cause of death. BMC Cancer 2011; 11:395. [PMID: 21929800 PMCID: PMC3185282 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-11-395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2011] [Accepted: 09/19/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To access the prognostic significance of HER-2 overexpression, the effect of trastuzumab and the cause of death in patients with brain metastases (BM) from breast cancer (BC). Methods We analyzed the outcome of 130 patients with BM from BC who received whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) (without surgery or radiosurgery) between January 1998 and April 2006. Demographic data, tumor characteristics, and treatments were prospectively recorded. The impact of HER-2 overexpression and trastuzumab-based therapy on overall survival (OS) and the cause of death were evaluated. Results The median follow-up for the whole population was 6.25 months (mean: 9.15; range: 0.23-53). The median survival time and 1-year survival rates after BM diagnosis were 7.43 months and 35.8% (95% CI: 28-45.7) respectively. The median survival time for HER-2 negative patients (n = 78), HER-2 positive patients not treated with trastuzumab (n = 20) and HER-2 positive patients treated with trastuzumab (n = 32) were 5.9 months, 5.6 months and 19.53 months, respectively. The 1-year survival rates were 26.1%, 29.2% and 62.6% respectively, (p < 0.004). Among the 18 HER-2 positive patients treated with trastuzumab who died, 11 (61%) apparently succumbed from CNS progression, in the face of stable or responsive non-CNS disease. Trastuzumab-based therapy was associated with a 51% reduction in the risk of death (multiadjusted hazard ratio: 0.49; 95% CI, 0.29-0.83). Conclusions In our experience, trastuzumab-based therapy for HER-overexpressing tumors was associated with improved survival in BM BC patients. This subgroup of patients may benefit from innovative approaches, in order to obtain better intra cerebral control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romuald Le Scodan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Privé Saint Grégoire, Saint Grégoire, France.
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27
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Le Scodan R, Massard C, Jouanneau L, Coussy F, Gutierrez M, Kirova Y, Lerebours F, Labib A, Mouret-Fourme E. Brain metastases from breast cancer: proposition of new prognostic score including molecular subtypes and treatment. J Neurooncol 2011; 106:169-76. [PMID: 21735114 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-011-0654-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2011] [Accepted: 06/24/2011] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
To develop a specific prognostic score for patients with brain metastases (BM) from breast cancer (BC), including the BC molecular subtype and treatment parameters, we analyzed the outcome of 130 patients with BM from BC who received whole-brain radiotherapy. We identified hierarchical risk groups for estimated survival by using recursive partitioning analysis (RPA). Seven prognostic factors, namely performance status, age, trastuzumab-based therapy for HER-2-overexpressing tumors, a triple-negative phenotype, Scarff-Bloom-Richardson grade, the serum LDH level and the lymphocyte count at BM diagnosis, were incorporated in the RPA. The final RPA nodes were grouped according to the survival time. The RPA tree showed that survival was best (median 19.5 months) among patients with HER2-overexpressing tumors who received trastuzumab-based therapy. The worst survival (median 3.5 months) was observed among patients who did not receive trastuzumab and who had lymphopenia at BM diagnosis, or KPS <70 and age over 50 years, or KPS ≥70 and a triple-negative tumor (HR- & HER-2-). The other patients had a median survival of 12.5 months (P < 0.001). This 3-class specific prognostic score successfully predicted the outcomes of a heterogeneous group of patients with brain metastases from BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romuald Le Scodan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Institut Curie Hôpital René Huguenin, 35 rue Dailly, 92210 Saint Cloud, France.
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28
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Jang G, Lee SS, Ahn JH, Jung KH, Lee H, Gong G, Kim HH, Ahn SD, Son BH, Ahn SH, Kim SB. Clinical features and course of brain metastases in triple-negative breast cancer: comparison with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive and other type at single institution in Korea. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2011; 128:171-7. [DOI: 10.1007/s10549-011-1526-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2011] [Accepted: 04/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Kondziolka D, Kano H, Harrison GL, Yang HC, Liew DN, Niranjan A, Brufsky AM, Flickinger JC, Lunsford LD. Stereotactic radiosurgery as primary and salvage treatment for brain metastases from breast cancer. J Neurosurg 2011; 114:792-800. [DOI: 10.3171/2010.8.jns10461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Object
To evaluate the role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the management of brain metastases from breast cancer, the authors assessed clinical outcomes and prognostic factors for survival.
Methods
The records from 350 consecutive female patients who underwent SRS for 1535 brain metastases from breast cancer were reviewed. The median patient age was 54 years (range 19–84 years), and the median number of tumors per patient was 2 (range 1–18 lesions). One hundred seventeen patients (33%) had a single metastasis to the brain, and 233 patients (67%) had multiple brain metastases. The median tumor volume was 0.7 cm3 (range 0.01–48.9 cm3), and the median total tumor volume for each patient was 4.9 cm3 (range 0.09–74.1 cm3).
Results
Overall survival after SRS was 69%, 49%, and 26% at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively, with a median survival of 11.2 months. Factors associated with a longer survival included controlled extracranial disease, a lower recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) class, a higher Karnofsky Performance Scale score, a smaller number of brain metastases, a smaller total tumor volume per patient, the presence of deep cerebral or brainstem metastases, and HER2/neu overexpression. Sustained local tumor control was achieved in 90% of the patients. Factors associated with longer progression-free survival included a better RPA class, fewer brain metastases, a smaller total tumor volume per patient, and a higher tumor margin dose. Symptomatic adverse radiation effects occurred in 6% of patients. Overall, the condition of 82% of patients improved or remained neurologically stable.
Conclusions
Stereotactic radiosurgery was safe and effective in patients with brain metastases from breast cancer and should be considered for initial treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Kondziolka
- 1Departments of Neurological Surgery,
- 2Radiation Oncology, and
- 4Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery
- 5University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
| | - Hideyuki Kano
- 1Departments of Neurological Surgery,
- 4Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery
| | | | - Huai-che Yang
- 1Departments of Neurological Surgery,
- 4Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery
- 7Department of Neurological Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Donald N. Liew
- 1Departments of Neurological Surgery,
- 4Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery
| | - Ajay Niranjan
- 1Departments of Neurological Surgery,
- 4Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery
| | - Adam M. Brufsky
- 3Hematology/Oncology
- 5University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
| | - John C. Flickinger
- 2Radiation Oncology, and
- 4Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery
- 6University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and
| | - L. Dade Lunsford
- 1Departments of Neurological Surgery,
- 2Radiation Oncology, and
- 4Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery
- 5University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
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van Oorschot B, Beckmann G, Schulze W, Rades D, Feyer P. Radiotherapeutic Options for Symptom Control in Breast Cancer. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 6:14-19. [PMID: 21547021 DOI: 10.1159/000324564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
SUMMARY: The majority of breast cancer patients will require radiation therapy at some time during the course of their disease. An estimated 30-50% of all radiation treatments are of palliative nature, either to alleviate symptoms or prophylactic to prevent deterioration of quality of life due to locally progressive disease. Radiotherapy is a locally effective tool, and typically causes no systemic and mostly mild acute side effects. The following article provides an overview of options and decision-making in palliative radiotherapy for symptom control.
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Pockaj BA, Wasif N, Dueck AC, Wigle DA, Boughey JC, Degnim AC, Gray RJ, McLaughlin SA, Northfelt DW, Sticca RP, Jakub JW, Perez EA. Metastasectomy and surgical resection of the primary tumor in patients with stage IV breast cancer: time for a second look? Ann Surg Oncol 2010; 17:2419-26. [PMID: 20232163 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-010-1016-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2009] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Patients with metastatic or stage IV breast cancer have limited therapeutic options, and the mainstay of treatment remains systemic chemotherapy. Traditionally, the role of surgery has been confined to strict palliation. Improvements in the efficacy of chemotherapeutic regimens, coupled with the use of hormonal and targeted therapy, have resulted in an expansion of surgical resection beyond simple palliation. Several single-institution studies have reported improved survival and even long-term cures after surgical resection for oligometastatic stage IV breast cancer. Similarly, provocative new data suggest that removal of the primary tumor in some patients may confer a survival advantage. The aim of this review is to summarize studies in the medical literature pertaining to the use of surgical resection in patients with stage IV breast cancer. We believe there is enough evidence to challenge conventional thinking about the role of surgery in stage IV breast cancer and to consider a new multimodality treatment paradigm to optimize patient outcomes. It is time to conduct a carefully designed randomized trial to see whether surgery in stage IV breast cancer does indeed warrant a second look.
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Koudriavtseva T, Onesti E, Tonachella R, Pelagalli L, Vidiri A, Jandolo B. Fatal herpetic encephalitis during brain radiotherapy in a cerebral metastasized breast cancer patient. J Neurooncol 2010; 100:137-40. [PMID: 20148285 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-010-0134-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2009] [Accepted: 01/25/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is a life-threatening condition with high mortality. The pathogenesis underlying the reactivation of latent herpes simplex virus (HSV) remains undefined. We present the case of a 55-year-old female who developed HSE type 1 during brain irradiation and antioedematous dexamethasone treatment for leptomeningeal metastasized breast tumor with epileptic seizures. During the radiotherapy (RT), after a total of 32 Gray administrated in 16 fractions, our patient developed cognitive impairment and partial epileptic status without fever. Two days later the patient's clinical conditions had deteriorated and high fever manifested. A diagnosis of HSE type 1 was made by a positive cerebrospinal fluid polymerase chain reaction. Antiviral therapy with high doses of acyclovir was practiced for four weeks but the comatose state persisted. The patient died 59 days after the last RT fraction. The temporal relationship of RT to the occurrence of HSE suggests that cranial irradiation may play a role in the reactivation of latent HSV. Although antiviral therapy resistance is infrequent in immunocompetent patients, it is one of the main problems in immunocompromized patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Koudriavtseva
- Department of Neuroscience and Cervical-Facial Pathology, Neurology, National Cancer Institute Regina Elena, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
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Heitz F, Harter P, Lueck HJ, Fissler-Eckhoff A, Lorenz-Salehi F, Scheil-Bertram S, Traut A, du Bois A. Triple-negative and HER2-overexpressing breast cancers exhibit an elevated risk and an earlier occurrence of cerebral metastases. Eur J Cancer 2009; 45:2792-8. [PMID: 19643597 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2009.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2009] [Revised: 06/01/2009] [Accepted: 06/25/2009] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Evaluation of the influence of immunohistochemically defined breast cancer (BC) subtypes and other risk factors on the development of cerebral metastases (CM). METHODS Exploratory analysis of a hospital-based prospective tumour registry including all patients with primary BC treated in our EUSOMA breast unit between 1998 and 2006. RESULTS The study cohort contained 2441 patients, including 284 patients (11.6%) with triple-negative (oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2-negative) and 245 patients (10.1%) with HER2-overexpressing BC subtypes. Overall, 80 patients (3.3%) developed CM within a median follow-up period of 47 months, 19 (23.8%) of them with triple-negative and 19 (23.8%) with HER2-positive tumours. Therefore, 6.7% of all patients with triple-negative and 7.8% of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer developed CM. Multivariate analysis indicated that the highest risk for CM was triple-negative breast cancer. Further independent risk factors were: HER2-overexpression, early onset BC (age<50 years), and large tumour size (pT3/4). Among those patients developing CM, triple-negative BC showed the shortest interval between primary diagnosis and occurrence of CM with a median of 22 months, compared to 30 and 63.5 months in HER2-positive and ER+/HER2- BC, respectively. Survival after occurrence of CM did not differ among the subtypes. CONCLUSION Patients with triple-negative or HER2-positive BC have a higher risk for CM compared with patients bearing the ER+/HER2- phenotype and develop CM earlier in the course of disease. A risk profile for CM might help adjust surveillance in high risk populations and identify patients with a need for new treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Heitz
- Department of Gynaecology and Gynaecological Oncology, EUSOMA-Breast Unit, HSK, Dr. Horst-Schmidt Klinik, Ludwig-Erhard Str.100, Wiesbaden D-65199, Germany.
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Duchnowska R, Dziadziuszko R, Czartoryska-Arłukowicz B, Radecka B, Szostakiewicz B, Sosińska-Mielcarek K, Karpińska A, Starosławska E, Kubiatowski T, Szczylik C. Risk factors for brain relapse in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2009; 117:297-303. [PMID: 19130219 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-008-0275-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2008] [Accepted: 12/09/2008] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Brain relapse is a common occurrence in HER2-positive breast cancer patients. However, the factors determining the risk of brain metastasis in these patients remain to be established. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of particular clinical and pathological factors on the risk of brain relapse in HER2-positive advanced breast cancer patients. The study group included 264 consecutive HER-2 positive metastatic breast cancer patients, most of whom (210; 80%) were administered trastuzumab, usually in combination with chemotherapy. Time from the diagnosis to distant relapse ranged from 0 to 142 months (median 16 months). The most common dominant site of metastatic disease was viscera (80%), followed by soft tissue (11%) and bones (10%). After a median follow-up of 3.1 years, the symptomatic brain relapse occurred in 103 patients (39%). Median time from treatment dissemination to brain relapse was 15 months (range, 0-81 months), and the cumulative 1-year, 3-year and 5-year risk of brain relapse was 17, 42 and 55%, respectively. The average annual risk of brain relapse for surviving patients during consecutive 7 years of follow-up was 10.0% (95% CI, 6.6-13.5%). In the univariate analysis the only variable significantly related to the increased risk of brain relapse was time from initial diagnosis to distant relapse shorter than 2 years (HR = 1.55, 95% CI, 1.03-2.33, P = 0.034). Patients with dominant site of disease in soft tissue or bones tended to have lower risk of relapse (HR = 0.54 and 0.62; P = 0.098 and 0.203, respectively) compared to patients with visceral metastases. Treatment with trastuzumab was not associated with reduced risk of brain relapse (HR = 0.91, 95% CI, 0.47-1.77, P = 0.78). In the multivariate analysis, time from initial diagnosis to distant relapse shorter than 2 years remained the only significant variable related to increased risk of brain relapse (adjusted HR = 1.62, 95% CI, 1.07-2.44; P = 0.022). HER2-positive breast cancer patients remain at high and continuous risk of brain relapse for a prolonged period of time after diagnosis of disease dissemination. Short time from initial diagnosis to distant relapse is related to increased risk of brain relapse. Molecular predictors are sorely needed to better characterize patients with high probability of early brain relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Duchnowska
- Department of Oncology, Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Ul. Szaserów 128, 00-908 Warsaw, Poland.
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Saip P, Cicin I, Eralp Y, Karagol H, Kucucuk S, Cosar Alas R, Yavuz E, Dincer M, Saglam E, Topuz E. Identification of patients who may benefit from the prophylactic cranial radiotherapy among breast cancer patients with brain metastasis. J Neurooncol 2008; 93:243-51. [DOI: 10.1007/s11060-008-9769-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2008] [Accepted: 12/10/2008] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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36
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Cassier PA, Ray-Coquard I, Sunyach MP, Lancry L, Guastalla JP, Ferlay C, Gomez F, Curé H, Lortholary A, Claude L, Blay JY, Bachelot T. A phase 2 trial of whole-brain radiotherapy combined with intravenous chemotherapy in patients with brain metastases from breast cancer. Cancer 2008; 113:2532-8. [PMID: 18780315 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.23858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A study was conducted to determine the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of concurrent cisplatin and vinorelbine chemotherapy and radiotherapy in patients with previously untreated brain metastases from breast cancer. METHODS Twenty-five patients with untreated brain metastases from breast cancer were treated with cisplatin (at a dose of 20 mg/m(2)/day, Days 1-5) and vinorelbine (6-mg/m(2) bolus on Day 1 and 6 mg/m(2)/day continuous infusion on Days 1-5) chemotherapy combined with concurrent 30-gray fractionated external-beam radiotherapy. Chemotherapy was given at 3-week intervals for a total of 4 cycles. Primary endpoint was the rate of radiologic response of brain metastases. RESULTS Complete response in the brain was observed in 3 patients, and partial response was noted in 16 patients, yielding a 76% response rate in the brain. The overall systemic response rate was 44%. Progression-free and overall survival were 3.7 months and 6.5 months, respectively. Overall toxicity was acceptable; nonhematologic grade 3-4 events were noted in 5 (20%) patients, and there were no toxic deaths. CONCLUSIONS Concurrent chemoradiation with cisplatin and vinorelbine for brain metastases from breast cancer appears to be active and well tolerated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe A Cassier
- Multidisciplinary Medical Oncology Day Unit, Edouard Herriot Hospital, Lyon, France
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Fromm S, Bartsch R, Rudas M, de Vries A, Wenzel C, Steger GG, Zielinski CC, Poetter R, Dieckmann K. Factors influencing the time to development of brain metastases in breast cancer. Breast 2008; 17:512-6. [PMID: 18486473 DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2008.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2008] [Revised: 03/18/2008] [Accepted: 03/20/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This retrospective study analyzed risk factors influencing the time to development of brain metastases with the aim to facilitate the definition of a high-risk population among breast cancer patients. One hundred seventy-four breast cancer patients with brain metastases, treated with whole brain radiotherapy, were evaluated. Statistical analysis included hormone receptor status, HER2/neu status, tumour grading, tumour stage, young age at the time of diagnosis, adjuvant systemic treatment, palliative systemic treatment, metastatic sites (if brain metastases were not the first site of recurrence), and immunotherapy with trastuzumab. Time to development of brain metastases was significantly prolonged by systemic palliative treatment (p< or =0.0001) whereas high tumour grading (p< or =0.04) and trastuzumab therapy (p< or =0.04) significantly shortened this time span. Patients with the brain as first metastatic site, age>35 (p< or =0.001) and stage III (p< or =0.018) at the time of diagnosis had a significantly shorter time to development for brain lesions. These factors should be further validated by a prospective trial to identify a high-risk population amongst breast cancer patients and enable the development of screening programs for early detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Fromm
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiobiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Le Scodan R, Massard C, Mouret-Fourme E, Guinebretierre JM, Cohen-Solal C, De Lalande B, Moisson P, Breton-Callu C, Gardner M, Goupil A, Renody N, Floiras JL, Labib A. Brain Metastases From Breast Carcinoma: Validation of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Recursive Partitioning Analysis Classification and Proposition of a New Prognostic Score. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2007; 69:839-45. [PMID: 17544592 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2007.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2007] [Revised: 04/12/2007] [Accepted: 04/13/2007] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To validate the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Recursive Partitioning Analysis (RTOG RPA) classification and determine independent prognostic factors, to create a simple and specific prognostic score for patients with brain metastases (BM) from breast carcinoma treated with whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT). METHODS AND MATERIALS From January 1998 through December 2003, 132 patients with BM from breast carcinoma were treated with WBRT. We analyzed several potential predictors of survival after WBRT: age, Karnofsky performance status, RTOG-RPA class, number of BM, presence and site of other systemic metastases, interval between primary tumor and BM, tumor hormone receptor (HR) status, lymphocyte count, and HER-2 overexpression. RESULTS A total of 117 patients received exclusive WBRT and were analyzed. Median survival with BM was 5 months. One-year and 2-year survival rates were 27.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 19.9-36.8%) and 12% (95% CI 6.5-21.2%), respectively. In multivariate analysis, RTOG RPA Class III, lymphopenia (< or =0.7 x 10(9)/L) and HR negative status were independent prognostic factors for poor survival. We constructed a three-factor prognostic scoring system that predicts 6-month and 1-year rates of overall survival in the range of 76.1-29.5% (p = 0.00033) and 60.9-15.9% (p = 0.0011), respectively, with median survival of 15 months, 5 months, or 3 months for patients with none, one, or more than one adverse prognostic factor(s), respectively. CONCLUSIONS This study confirms the prognostic value of the RTOG RPA classification, lymphopenia, and tumor HR status, which can be used to form a prognostic score for patients with BM from breast carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romuald Le Scodan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Centre René Huguenin, Saint Cloud, France.
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Bartsch R, Rottenfusser A, Wenzel C, Dieckmann K, Pluschnig U, Altorjai G, Rudas M, Mader RM, Poetter R, Zielinski CC, Steger GG. Trastuzumab prolongs overall survival in patients with brain metastases from Her2 positive breast cancer. J Neurooncol 2007; 85:311-7. [PMID: 17557136 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-007-9420-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2007] [Accepted: 05/21/2007] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brain metastases are frequently encountered in Her2 positive advanced breast cancer. It is still not clear, if trastuzumab treatment should be continued following their diagnosis. In this analysis we evaluated if trastuzumab was able to influence time to in-brain progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS). For this reason, we compared patients who continued on trastuzumab with a historical control group. PATIENTS AND METHODS Seventeen Her2 positive patients receiving whole brain radiotherapy for brain metastases and continuing on trastuzumab were identified. As historical control group, thirty-six patients treated before 2002 were identified from a breast cancer database. We performed a multivariate analysis (Cox regression) to explore which factors were potentially able to significantly influence TTP and OS. RESULTS Median TTP was 6 months, range 1-33+ months. Median OS was 7 months, range 1-38 months. Seventeen patients received trastuzumab after WBRT. Factors associated with prolonged TTP were KPS (p = 0.001), and intensified local treatment (p = 0.004). A trend towards longer TTP was observed in patients treated with trastuzumab (p = 0.068). OS was significantly influenced by KPS (p < 0.001), and continued antibody therapy (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION Two parameters were significantly associated with prolonged OS: KPS and trastuzumab. While there was a trend towards prolonged TTP in patients with trastuzumab treatment after WBRT, this did not reach statistical significance. It appears therefore reasonable to suggest continuation of antibody therapy in patients with good performance status despite disease spreading to the brain. Concerning activity of trastuzumab in brain metastases themselves, no final conclusion is possible.
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MESH Headings
- Adult
- Aged
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
- Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use
- Brain Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Brain Neoplasms/metabolism
- Brain Neoplasms/radiotherapy
- Brain Neoplasms/secondary
- Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Breast Neoplasms/metabolism
- Breast Neoplasms/pathology
- Breast Neoplasms/radiotherapy
- Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/radiotherapy
- Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/secondary
- Carcinoma, Lobular/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Lobular/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Lobular/radiotherapy
- Carcinoma, Lobular/secondary
- Combined Modality Therapy
- Disease-Free Survival
- Humans
- Middle Aged
- Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism
- Retrospective Studies
- Trastuzumab
- Whole-Body Irradiation
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupert Bartsch
- Department of Medicine 1 and Cancer Centre, Clinical Division of Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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40
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Viani GA, Castilho MS, Salvajoli JV, Pellizzon ACA, Novaes PE, Guimarães FS, Conte MA, Fogaroli RC. Whole brain radiotherapy for brain metastases from breast cancer: estimation of survival using two stratification systems. BMC Cancer 2007; 7:53. [PMID: 17386108 PMCID: PMC1851018 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-7-53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2006] [Accepted: 03/26/2007] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brain metastases (BM) are the most common form of intracranial cancer. The incidence of BM seems to have increased over the past decade. Recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) of data from three Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) trials (1200 patients) has allowed three prognostic groups to be identified. More recently a simplified stratification system that uses the evaluation of three main prognostics factors for radiosurgery in BM was developed. METHODS To analyze the overall survival rate (OS), prognostic factors affecting outcomes and to estimate the potential improvement in OS for patients with BM from breast cancer, stratified by RPA class and brain metastases score (BS-BM). From January 1996 to December 2004, 174 medical records of patients with diagnosis of BM from breast cancer, who received WBRT were analyzed. The surgery followed by WBRT was used in 15.5% of patients and 84.5% of others patients were submitted at WBRT alone; 108 patients (62.1%) received the fractionation schedule of 30 Gy in 10 fractions. Solitary BM was present in 37.9 % of patients. The prognostic factors evaluated for OS were: age, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), number of lesions, localization of lesions, neurosurgery, chemotherapy, absence extracranial disease, RPA class, BS-BM and radiation doses and fractionation. RESULTS The OS in 1, 2 and 3 years was 33.4 %, 16.7%, and 8.8 %, respectively. The RPA class analysis showed strong relation with OS (p < 0.0001). The median survival time by RPA class in months was: class I 11.7, class II 6.2 and class III 3.0. The significant prognostic factors associated with better OS were: higher KPS (p < 0.0001), neurosurgery (P < 0.0001), single metastases (p = 0.003), BS-BM (p < 0.0001), control primary tumor (p = 0.002) and absence of extracranial metastases (p = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, the factors associated positively with OS were: neurosurgery (p < 0.0001), absence of extracranial metastases (p <0.0001) and RPA class I (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION Our data suggests that patients with BM from breast cancer classified as RPA class I may be effectively treated with local resection followed by WBRT, mainly in those patients with single BM, higher KPS and cranial extra disease controlled. RPA class was shown to be the most reliable indicators of survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo A Viani
- Radiation Oncology Department, Hospital do Cancer, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcus S Castilho
- Radiation Oncology Department, Hospital do Cancer, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - João V Salvajoli
- Radiation Oncology Department, Hospital do Cancer, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Paulo E Novaes
- Radiation Oncology Department, Hospital do Cancer, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Maria A Conte
- Radiation Oncology Department, Hospital do Cancer, São Paulo, Brazil
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41
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Bartsch R, Fromm S, Rudas M, Wenzel C, Harbauer S, Roessler K, Kitz K, Steger GG, Weitmann HD, Poetter R, Zielinski CC, Dieckmann K. Intensified local treatment and systemic therapy significantly increase survival in patients with brain metastases from advanced breast cancer - a retrospective analysis. Radiother Oncol 2006; 80:313-7. [PMID: 16959347 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2006.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2005] [Revised: 07/30/2006] [Accepted: 08/03/2006] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupert Bartsch
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiobiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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42
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Hicks DG, Short SM, Prescott NL, Tarr SM, Coleman KA, Yoder BJ, Crowe JP, Choueiri TK, Dawson AE, Budd GT, Tubbs RR, Casey G, Weil RJ. Breast Cancers With Brain Metastases are More Likely to be Estrogen Receptor Negative, Express the Basal Cytokeratin CK5/6, and Overexpress HER2 or EGFR. Am J Surg Pathol 2006; 30:1097-104. [PMID: 16931954 DOI: 10.1097/01.pas.0000213306.05811.b9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Brain metastases (BM) from breast cancer are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In the current study, we have examined a cohort of breast cancer patients who went on to develop BM for clinical-pathologic features and predictive markers that identify this high-risk subgroup of patients at the time of diagnosis. The primary tumors from 55 patients who developed BM were used to construct a tissue microarray. The clinical and pathologic features were recorded and the tissue microarray was stained for estrogen receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, cytokeratin 5/6, and epidermal growth factor receptor by immunohistochemistry. This cohort of patients was compared against a group of 254 patients who remain free of metastases (67 mo mean follow-up), and another cohort of 40 patients who developed mixed visceral and bone metastatic disease without brain recurrence over a similar period of time. Breast cancer patients who went on to develop BM were more likely to be <50 years old (P<0.001), and the primary tumors were more likely to be estrogen receptor negative (P<0.001) and high grade (P=0.002). The primary tumors were also more likely to express cytokeratin 5/6 (P<0.001) and epidermal growth factor receptor (P=0.001), and to overexpress human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (P=0.001). The data presented above suggest a profile for breast cancer patients at increased risk for developing BM. Predictive factors to help identify patients with metastatic breast cancer who are at an increased risk for developing central nervous system recurrence might allow for screening of this population for early detection and treatment or for the development of targeted strategies for prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Hicks
- Clinical and Anatomic Pathology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195, USA
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Abstract
Brain metastases from breast cancer are common and cause significant morbidity and mortality. Treatment with whole-brain radiotherapy provides a median survival of only 4-6 months. One mechanism affecting sensitivity to radiation is tumor oxygenation. Hypoxic tumor cells are more likely to be resistant to radiation and adversely affect prognosis. For nearly 70 years, all attempted modalities have failed to circumvent tumor hypoxia and increase tumor death. Abraham and colleagues developed a fibric acid derivative that would cause the displacement of oxygen from hemoglobin and improve tissue oxygenation. After modifications to enhance absorption into the red blood cell, RSR13 (efaproxiral) was developed. Efaproxiral was found to be safe and improved tumor oxygenation in preclinical studies. Early Phase I and II trials supported the earlier preclinical evidence while demonstrating that efaproxiral was safe and effective. A randomized Phase III study, Radiation Enhancing Allosteric Compounds of Hypoxic brain metastases (REACH, RT-009), failed to show a significant improvement in overall survival in all eligible patients treated with efaproxiral and whole-brain radiation. However, there was a statistically significant improvement in median survival and quality of life within a subset of metastatic breast cancer patients. Efaproxiral is currently being studied with radiotherapy in a confirmatory trial in the treatment of brain metastases from breast cancer. Furthermore, the combination of efaproxiral with radiotherapy is being investigated in other solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan H Engel
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, 676 North Street Clair Street, Suite 850, Chicago, IL 60622, USA.
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Yau T, Swanton C, Chua S, Sue A, Walsh G, Rostom A, Johnston SR, O'Brien MER, Smith IE. Incidence, pattern and timing of brain metastases among patients with advanced breast cancer treated with trastuzumab. Acta Oncol 2006; 45:196-201. [PMID: 16546866 DOI: 10.1080/02841860500486630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
We aim to investigate the incidence, patterns and timing of brain metastases in advanced breast cancer patients who have previously received trastuzumab. Eighty-seven patients who had received trastuzumab for advanced breast cancer from November 1999 to September 2003 at the Royal Marsden Hospital were assessed. With a median follow-up period of 11 months from commencing trastuzumab, 23 patients developed brain metastases (30% at 1 year; 95% CI 58-82%). Among 57 patients who had clinical benefits on trastuzumab, 12 (21%) patients developed first disease progression in brain with 75% of them had isolated CNS progression. Moreover, among patients who received trastuzumab as first line treatment, isolated brain metastases were the initial site of progression in 17% patients. Nearly all patients developed parenchymal brain disease. This study shows brain metastases are common phenomenon in HER2 positive advanced breast cancer patients receiving trastuzumab and also may implicate the brain as a sanctuary site for early relapse in this patient cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Yau
- Breast Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Surrey SM2 5PT, UK.
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45
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Liu MT, Hsieh CY, Wang AY, Chang TH, Pi CP, Huang CC, Huang CY, Liou CH. Prognostic factors affecting the outcome of brain metastases from breast cancer. Support Care Cancer 2006; 14:936-42. [PMID: 16575571 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-006-0029-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2005] [Accepted: 01/19/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
GOALS OF WORK The purpose of this study is to analyze the overall survival rate of patients with brain metastases from breast cancer and to determine prognostic factors affecting outcomes of these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS From July 1988 to December 2004, 48 female patients with brain metastases from breast cancer underwent full-dose whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT). In these patients we evaluated the significance of the following factors in predicting the survival rate after WBRT: age, extracranial metastases, number of brain metastases, total dose of WBRT, Karnofsky performance status (KPS), and Radiation Therapy Oncology Group recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) class. RESULTS The median overall survival rate was 7.3 months. The 1- and 2-year overall survival rates were 37 and 20%, respectively. In univariate analysis, KPS (p<0.0001), number of lesions of brain metastases (p=0.0149), age (p=0.0452), and RPA class (p<0.0001) were statistically significant prognostic factors for overall survival. In multivariate analysis, KPS (p<0.001) and number of brain metastases (p=0.039) were significant prognostic factors for overall survival. CONCLUSIONS Survival of breast cancer patients with brain metastases treated with WBRT is poor. To improve survival, enrollment of more patients with brain metastases from breast cancer for prospective trials involving a multimodality approach that combines radiation and systemic therapies based on appropriate patient triage is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mu-Tai Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, Republic of China.
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Gerszten PC, Burton SA, Welch WC, Brufsky AM, Lembersky BC, Ozhasoglu C, Vogel WJ. Single-fraction radiosurgery for the treatment of spinal breast metastases. Cancer 2005; 104:2244-54. [PMID: 16216003 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.21467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The spine is the most common site of bony metastases in patients with osseous breast carcinoma metastases. Spine metastases are the source of significant pain and occasionally neurologic deficit in this patient population. Conventional external beam radiotherapy lacks the precision to allow delivery of large single-fraction doses of radiation and simultaneously limit the dose to radiosensitive structures such as the spinal cord. This study evaluated the clinical efficacy of the treatment of spinal breast carcinoma metastases with a single-fraction radiosurgical technique. METHODS In this prospective cohort evaluation, 68 breast carcinoma metastases to the spine in 50 patients were treated with a single-fraction radiosurgery technique with a follow-up period of 6-48 months, median 16 months. The most common indication for radiosurgery treatment was pain in 57 lesions, as a primary treatment modality in 8 patients, and for radiographic tumor progression, as a postsurgical boost, and for a progressive neurologic deficit in 1 patient each. RESULTS Tumor volume ranged from 0.8-197 cm3 (mean, 27.7 cm3). Maximum tumor dose was maintained at 15-22.5 Gy (mean, 19 Gy). No radiation-induced toxicity occurred during the follow-up period (6-48 mo). Long-term axial and radicular pain improvement occurred in 55 of 57 (96%) patients who were treated primarily for pain. Long-term radiographic tumor control was seen in all patients who underwent radiosurgery as their primary treatment modality, for radiographic tumor progression, or as a postsurgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS Spinal radiosurgery was found to be feasible, safe, and clinically effective for the treatment of spinal metastases from breast carcinoma. The results indicate the potential of radiosurgery in the treatment of patients with spinal breast metastases, especially those with solitary sites of spine involvement, to improve long-term palliation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter C Gerszten
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
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47
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Claude L, Perol D, Ray-Coquard I, Petit T, Blay JY, Carrie C, Bachelot T. Lymphopenia: A new independent prognostic factor for survival in patients treated with whole brain radiotherapy for brain metastases from breast carcinoma. Radiother Oncol 2005; 76:334-9. [PMID: 16024123 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2005.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2003] [Revised: 05/09/2005] [Accepted: 06/05/2005] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE To determine overall survival (OS) and independent prognostic factors in patients with brain metastases (BM) from breast cancer treated by whole brain radiotherapy (WBR). PATIENTS AND METHODS One hundred and twenty (120) women with BM, treated in a single French cancer center between 02/91 and 06/01, were reviewed. BM were confirmed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Survival time was defined as the time interval from the date of BM to the date of death or last follow-up. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to determine significant prognostic factors in a multivariate analysis. RESULTS Surgery was followed by WBR in 5 patients. One hundred and four (104) patients received exclusive WBR, eight received concomitant chemo-radiation, and one received chemo-radiation after surgery. The median survival time was 5 months (95% CI: 3-7 months). In the multivariate analysis, performance status over 1 and lymphopenia (<0.7 G/L) were found to be independent prognostic factors for poor survival. Based on the number of these independent prognostic factors, we propose a predictive model for survival in brain metastatic cancer patients. Median survival was 7 months for patients presenting none or one poor prognosis factor at diagnosis versus 2 months for patients with 2 poor prognosis factors (p<0.0001) CONCLUSION Brain metastases from breast cancer remain associated with very poor prognosis and there is a need for better treatment procedures. If confirmed in predictive models, the identification of prognostic subgroups, based on KPS and lymphopenia, among patients with BM from breast cancer would help physicians select patients for future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Line Claude
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France
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48
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Duchnowska R, Szczylik C. Central nervous system metastases in breast cancer patients administered trastuzumab. Cancer Treat Rev 2005; 31:312-8. [PMID: 15979804 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2005.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Amplification or over-expression of the HER2/neu receptor is present in 20-30% of invasive breast cancers and in 60% of intraductal breast carcinomas. Patients with HER2/neu gene aberrations have more aggressive disease, frequent disease recurrence and a shorter survival. Trastuzumab (herceptin) is a monoclonal antibody selectively directed against the HER2/neu receptor. The addition of trastuzumab to chemotherapy in HER2/neu-positive advanced breast cancer patients has increased complete and partial response rates, and prolonged time to progression and overall survival. However, a relatively common failure site in patients administered trastuzumab is the central nervous system (CNS). CNS metastases in these patients seem to develop despite responses achieved in extracerebral sites. This pattern of failure has mainly been attributed to the lack of trastuzumab penetration to the CNS owing to the high molecular weight (145 kDa) of this molecule. Additionally, increased risk of CNS relapse may be associated with improved systemic control of extracerebral metastases and prolonged survival without brain protection (a sanctuary site). Finally, it was postulated that HER2/neu over-expression and/or amplification might predispose to brain metastases. The aim of this article is to discuss the pathophysiology of this phenomenon and its clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Duchnowska
- Department of Oncology, Military Institute of Medicine, Ul. Szaserów 128, 00-909 Warsaw, Poland.
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49
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Abstract
Brain metastases occur in as many as one third of patients with disseminated breast cancer. In this article, we discuss various presentations of brain metastases from breast cancer and review evidence that supports different treatment options. Because no prospective, randomized, controlled studies, to our knowledge, have focused solely on patients with brain metastases from breast cancer, we will first review retrospective studies of patients with brain metastases from breast cancer. Randomized studies of patients with brain metastases caused by multiple primary cancers will also be examined, and the conclusions from these studies will be extrapolated to patients with breast cancer. Because brain metastases from breast cancer occur in a variety of different clinical settings, ranging from a single metastasis without extensive extracranial disease to multiple brain metastases with widespread extracranial disease, treatment approaches must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each patient. For different clinical scenarios, neurosurgical resection, radiosurgery, and/or whole-brain radiation therapy may be appropriate treatment options. For patients with brain metastases from breast cancer that overexpresses HER2/neu, trastuzumab could alter the natural history of the non-central nervous system (CNS) disease. Therefore, HER2 status could also influence the treatment of brain metastases from breast cancer. Given the prevalence of brain metastases in patients with metastatic breast cancer in contemporary series, the rationale for clinical trials of CNS screening and prophylactic cranial irradiation will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Kirsch
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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50
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Mystakidou K, Kouloulias V, Tsilika E, Boviatsis E, Kouvaris J, Matsopoulos G, Vlahos L. Is early recognition of radiologically silent brain metastasis from breast cancer beneficial? A retrospective study of 22 cases. Breast Cancer 2004; 11:276-81. [PMID: 15550846 DOI: 10.1007/bf02984549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Over a period of 10 years, twenty-two patients with T2-3N2Mx breast cancer presented with symptoms of increased intracranial pressure (ICP), but brain CT scan and/or MRI did not reveal any signs of a space occupying lesion. A brain CT scan and an MRI study were performed every 15 days. Ten patients refused this close follow up. Thus, two groups were formed group A (n = 12) included the patients who were close's followed and group B (n = 10) consisted of those patients who were not. Therefore, Group A, being under careful follow-up, initiated radiotherapy were quickly. The median time from the presentation of increased ICP symptoms until the appearance of metastases on CT and/or MRI directly followed by brain irradiation was 48 days (SE = 6.1) for group A and 72 days (SE = 0.7) for group B (p = 0.0085, log-rank test). In group A, median Overall Survival (OS) was 171.0 (SE = 21.5) days, and was 99.0 (SE = 6.3) days (p = 0.014) for group B. Volumetric analysis of the secondary brain lesions at the initiation of radiotherapy showed a total volume of metastatic lesions of 19.5 +/- 13.9 cm3 versus 65.3 +/- 20.7 cm3 for groups A and B, respectively (p < 0.001, Mann-Whitney test). Post-radiotherapy, Karnofsky Performance Status and Visual Analogue Score were also improved for group A versus B (p = 0.002). Group A appeared to benefit from close follow-up since the metastases were detected and irradiation was given sooner compared with group B, thus achieving better performance status and prolonged survival. Radiologically silent brain metastases from breast cancer should not be ignored because timely whole brain irradiation should be the goal of clinicians. Clinical suspicion should lead to close follow-up with multiple CT/MRI studies and cerebral spinal fluid cytology until the final diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyriaki Mystakidou
- Palliative Unit, Department of Radiology, Areteion Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, Greece
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