Have Changes in Systemic Treatment Improved Survival in Patients with Breast Cancer Metastatic to the Brain?
Table 1
Patient characteristics.
Contemporary group,
Historical group,
Median age, range
55 yrs., 34–81
53 yrs., 29–72
>.1
Median KPS, range
70%, 50–90
70%, 30–90
>.1
Median time
52 mo., 3–216
34 mo., 7–118
<.05
% single brain metastasis
16
34
<.05
% with MRI scan of the brain
44
41
>.1
% uncontrolled primary
3
0
>.1
% without extracranial metastases
9
9
>.1
% RPA class I versus II versus III
6 : 59 : 34
6 : 56 : 38
>.1
% GPA group I versus II versus III versus IV
0 : 0 : 62 : 38
0 : 6 : 56 : 38
>.1
Median GPA score
1.5
1.5
>.1
% chemotherapy before brain metastases diagnosis
81
69
< .1
% T1/2 N0 versus T3/4 N0 versus N+
25 : 6 : 69
19 : 6 : 75
>.1
% with HR positive tumour
42
not available
% with HER-2 positive tumour
69
not available
KPS:
Karnofsky performance status, from breast cancer diagnosis to brain
metastases, MRI: magnetic resonance imaging, RPA: recursive partitioning
analysis, GPA: graded prognostic assessment (Sperduto et al. [2]: 0-1 point
(most unfavourable) defined as group IV, 1.5–2.5 points defined as group III, 3
points defined as group II, 3.5–4 points defined as group I), HR: hormone
receptor.
