Survival of patients with multiple brain metastases treated with whole-brain radiotherapy
Aim: To report the survival outcomes of patients with multiple brain metastases treated with whole-brain radiotherapy. Patients & methods: From 2004 to 2012, patients with brain metastases treated with whole-brain radiotherapy were included. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from the start of radiation treatment. Univariate and multivariate proportional hazard model of OS was conducted. Generalized R2 statistic (ranged from 0 to 1) was calculated to determine the association with the outcome. Results: Nine-hundred-ninety-one patients were included. The actuarial median OS time was 2.7 months (95% CI: 2.5–2.9). Patients of older age (>65 years), lower Karnofsky performance status, not postoperative and patients with gastrointestinal, genitourinary or lung as opposed to breast cancer were more likely to have a shorter survival. Conclusion: Short median survival of 2.7 months may reflect poorer prognosis of patients referred due to large amount of referrals for radiosurgery. Prognostic factors for survival should be considered at consultation.
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