A Survival Score for Patients Receiving Stereotactic Radiosurgery Alone for Brain Metastases from Breast Cancer

AIM: To generate a survival score for patients with breast cancer treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) alone for brain metastases.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seven factors were evaluated in 34 patients, namely age, performance score, number of brain metastases, maximum diameter of all brain metastases, location of brain metastases, extracerebral metastases and time between breast cancer diagnosis and SRS. The score was created from factors having a significant impact on survival. Points of 0 (worse survival) or 1 (better survival) were assigned. Factor scores were added to total prognostic scores for each patient.

RESULTS: A significant impact on survival was found for performance score (p<0.001), maximum diameter of cerebral lesions (p=0.002), and extracerebral metastases (p=0.026). Three groups were designated by score: 0-1, 2 and 3 points. One-year survival rates were 48%, 71% and 100%, respectively (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION: This score contributes to appropriate selection of personalized treatment in patients with breast cancer with few cerebral metastases.