Pathologically confirmed brain metastases from primary uterine cervical tumors: two cases and a literature review

Dynamic Nomogram Based on the Metastatic Number and Sites and Therapy Strategies Predicting the Prognosis of Patients with Metastatic Cervical Cancer

Background

Individual survival prediction is of vital importance to optimize the individualized treatment of metastatic cervical cancer (mCC) patients. The goal of this study was to identify the potential risk factors for the survival of mCC patients and construct a nomogram for their prognosis.

Methods

Medical records of patients with newly diagnosed mCC at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University were reviewed retrospectively. Risk factors were identified using Cox proportional hazards analysis and Kaplan-Meier curves. Random forest was used to identify factors associated with therapy strategy. Nomogram and dynamic nomogram were established using 'rms' and "DynNom" R package.

Results

A total of 98 patients with mCC were finally identified. In Cox analyses, multiple metastases and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) were identified as independent predictors for overall survival (OS). We further explored the prognostic value of metastatic number and sites and therapy strategies for mCC patients by Kaplan-Meier curves. A dynamic nomogram including metastases number and sites (multiple metastases, liver and lymph node (LN) above diaphragm metastases) and chemoradiotherapy strategies (CCRT, postradiotherapy chemotherapy, and radiotherapy to metastatic sites) was constructed for predicting the prognosis of mCC patients. For newly diagnosed patients, we strongly recommended the combination of chemotherapy and definitive pelvic radiotherapy and, if possible, radiation to metastatic site, but CCRT should be implemented with caution. We constructed a dynamic nomogram indicating that patients with younger age, shorter symptom duration, and better laboratory test results are suitable for CCRT.

Conclusion

Survival analyses showed that the metastatic number and sites and therapy strategies are associated with the prognosis of mCC patients. The CCRT and prognostic nomograms may help clinicians to make better clinical decisions and effectively predict the prognosis for newly diagnosed mCC patients.

Incidence and risk factors for the development of cerebral metastasis in cervical cancer patients

OBJECTIVE

Cerebral metastasis (CM) in cervical cancer (CC) cases, although rare, results in high lethality rates. The present study aimed to assess CM incidence in a Brazilian reference CC center and evaluate the risk factors for CM development. Retrospective observational study of patients diagnosed with CC between 2010 and 2017.

METHODS

Cumulative CM incidence and incidence density were evaluated. Characteristics associated to CM development risks were identified using crude (cOR) or adjusted (aOR) odds ratios.

RESULTS

A total of 3,397 patients were included in this study. Patient age ranged from 18 to 101 years, with a mean age of 48.8±14.0. After a mean follow-up time of 3.2±2.1 years, 51 CM cases were identified, resulting in a cumulative incidence of 1.5% (95% confidence intervals [CI]=1.12-1.97) and an incidence density at the end of the 6th year of 27.4 per 1,000 women/year. Advanced clinical stage (aOR=3.15; 95% CI=1.16-8.58; p=0.025), the presence of previous lung metastasis (aOR=4.04; 95% CI=1.82-8.94; p=0.001) and the adenocarcinoma (aOR=2.90; 95% CI=1.46-5.76; p=0.002), adenosquamous carcinoma (aOR=7.33; 95% CI=2.87-18.73; p<0.001), undifferentiated carcinoma (aOR=14.37; 95% CI=3.77-54.76; p<0.001) and neuroendocrine carcinoma (aOR=21.31; 95% CI=6.65-68.37, p<0.001) histological types were associated with a higher risk for CM development. CM risk was higher in the first years of follow-up, with no cases observed after the 6th year.

CONCLUSION

CC patients in advanced clinical stages, displaying previous lung metastasis and non-squamous histological types are at high risk of developing CM.

Brain Metastases from Uterine Cervical and Endometrial Cancer

Simple Summary

This review investigated the prevalence, clinical characteristics, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of patients with brain metastases from uterine cervical carcinoma (CC) and uterine endometrial carcinoma (EC). The findings of this review indicate the factors that can facilitate better treatment selection and, consequently, better outcomes in patients with CC and EC.

Abstract

Reports on brain metastases (BMs) from uterine cervical carcinoma (CC) and uterine endometrial carcinoma (EC) have recently increased due to the development of massive databases and improvements in diagnostic procedures. This review separately investigates the prevalence, clinical characteristics, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of BMs from CC and uterine endometrial carcinoma EC. For patients with CC, early-stage disease and poorly differentiated carcinoma lead to BMs, and elderly age, poor performance status, and multiple BMs are listed as poor prognostic factors. Advanced-stage disease and high-grade carcinoma are high-risk factors for BMs from EC, and multiple metastases and extracranial metastases, or unimodal therapies, are possibly factors indicating poor prognosis. There is no “most effective” therapy that has gained consensus for the treatment of BMs. Treatment decisions are based on clinical status, number of the metastases, tumor size, and metastases at distant organs. Surgical resection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy appears to be the best treatment approach to date. Stereotactic ablative radiation therapy has been increasingly associated with good outcomes in preserving cognitive functions. Despite treatment, patients died within 1 year after the BM diagnosis. BMs from uterine cancer remain quite rare, and the current evidence is limited; thus, further studies are needed.

Isolated Central Nervous System Metastasis From Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Cervix Without Pulmonary Metastasis

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix (NECC) accounts for 2% of all cervical cancers. Brain metastasis is rare, with few cases described in the literature, and is usually associated with preceding pulmonary metastasis. We describe an additional case of isolated brain metastasis without pulmonary metastasis from NECC and reflect on unique management. A 37-year-old woman with a history of NECC presented with severe headache post-total hysterectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection. The computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated obstructive hydrocephalus with several intra-axial lesions located in the pineal region, left cerebellar hemisphere, and left frontal operculum. A right frontal ventriculostomy was initially placed to relieve the hydrocephalus. CSF was sent for cytology but was unrevealing. Due to the degree of brainstem compression and the need to obtain a pathologic diagnosis, a posterior fossa craniotomy for the removal of the lesion was performed. Histopathology demonstrated small blue cell tumors positive for neuroendocrine markers consistent with neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix. Resection of additional metastasis was not recommended. An endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) was then performed in order to remove the ventriculostomy with success. The patient was then referred to radiation oncology and received whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for a total of 30 Grays (3000 cGy) over 10 fractions. Interval imaging demonstrated complete resolution of the pineal and left frontal lesions. The patient was symptom-free for approximately three months. She then presented with paraplegia consistent with follow-up imaging of her neuraxis, demonstrating drop metastasis in her cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. Spinal radiation was given with partial recovery in upper extremity function, however, lower extremity function did not recover. The patient was then transferred to palliative care. There are no guidelines on NECC brain metastasis management. Brain metastasis is associated with reduced longevity. NECC has a propensity for early dissemination and treatment failure. ETV is preferred over ventriculoperitoneal shunting in cases with obstructive hydrocephalus, as it may reduce the risk of tumor seeding. Retrospectively, our patient may have benefitted from upfront craniospinal radiation.