Outcome Evaluation of HER2 Breast Cancer Patients with Limited Brain Metastasis

Abstract

Background/aim: To appraise the outcome of limited brain metastasis (BMs) from HER2 breast cancer.

Patients and methods: The study cohort included sixty-six patients Treatments consisted of surgery followed by radiotherapy (RT), or radiosurgery (SRS/HSRS) or whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT).

Results: Surgery followed by RT was performed in 25.8% of patients, SRS/HSRS alone in 48.5%, and WBRT alone in 25.7%. The median follow-up time was 23.4 months and 32.5 months for alive patients. Local recurrence occurred in 16 (24.2%) patients. The median, 1-, 2-, 3-year local control were (median not reached=nr), 87.5%, 71.2%, and 63.0%. The median 1-, 2-, 3-year overall survival were 30.7 months (95%CI: 18.9-42.6 months), 78.5%, 57.4%, 43.3%. Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS), number of BMs, local treatment performed, the presence of extracranial (EC) metastases at the time of BMs diagnosis, and the administration of trastuzumab affected survival.

Conclusion: HER2BC patients with good performance status, controlled EC disease and single BM had better outcome. In this long-term survivor patients, local BMs treatment can affect survival.

Keywords: Brain metastases; radiosurgery; surgery; targeted therapy.