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Treatment outcomes and prognostic factors for patients with brain metastases from breast cancer of each subtype: a multicenter retrospective analysis

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Abstract

To define prognostic factors for breast cancer patients with brain metastases, compare their clinical courses and prognoses according to breast cancer subtypes, and analyze the causes of death in such patients. We retrospectively analyzed 1,466 patients diagnosed with brain metastases between April 1, 2001 and December 31, 2012, from 24 institutions of the Japan Clinical Oncology Group. Overall, 1,256 patients with brain metastases were included. The median overall survival (OS) was 8.7 months (95 % confidence interval [CI] 7.8–9.6 months). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that patients diagnosed with brain metastasis within 6 months of metastatic breast cancer diagnoses, asymptomatic brain disease, or HER2-positive/estrogen receptor-positive tumors had increased OS. Median OS after the development of brain metastases was 9.3 months (95 % CI 7.2–11.3) for the luminal type, 16.5 months (95 % CI 11.9–21.1) for the luminal-HER2 type, 11.5 months (95 % CI 9.1–13.8) for the HER2 type, and 4.9 months (95 % CI 3.9–5.9) for the triple-negative type. Luminal-HER2 type patients had significantly longer OS than patients with the luminal type (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.50, P < 0.0001) and triple-negative type (HR = 1.97, P < 0.0001); no significant differences were noted compared to HER2-type patients (HR = 1.19, P = 0.117). The prognosis and clinical course of patients with brain metastasis from breast cancer before and after developing brain metastases vary according to subtype. Focusing on the subtypes of breast cancer can optimize the prevention, early detection, and improved treatment of brain metastases.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the following individuals for providing us with data on patients with brain metastases: Yasuyuki Sato, Nagoya Medical Center; Yoshimasa Kosaka, Kitasato University School of Medicine; Tsutomu Iwasa, Kinki University School of Medicine; Hiroyasu Yamashiro, Kure Medical Center/Chugoku Cancer Center; Tadahiko Shien; Okayama University Hospital; Kazuya Miyoshi, NHO Fukuyama Medical Center; Anan Keisei, Kitakyushu Municipal Medical Center, Department of Surgery; Hitoshi Arioka, Yokohama Rosai Hospital; and Maeda Shigeto, National Nagasaki Medical Center. We would also like to thank Editage for providing editorial assistance. This study was supported by the National Cancer Center Research and Development Fund (23-A-17) and Tokai University School of Medicine Research Aid, 2013.

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Correspondence to Naoki Niikura.

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Niikura, N., Hayashi, N., Masuda, N. et al. Treatment outcomes and prognostic factors for patients with brain metastases from breast cancer of each subtype: a multicenter retrospective analysis. Breast Cancer Res Treat 147, 103–112 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-014-3090-8

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