[Brain metastases in breast cancer. Epidemiology and natural history. The Institut Curie experience]

Bull Cancer. 2011 Apr;98(4):357-69. doi: 10.1684/bdc.2011.1339.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Breast cancer is the second cause for brain metastases. Their incidence is rising, partly due to the therapeutic improvements which alter the natural history of breast cancer. Predictive factors for brain metastases have been identified: HER2 oncogene overexpression, lack of expression of hormone receptors, young age and triple negative status. Brain metastases prognosis remains poor with a median survival shorter than 1 year, except for solitary lesions treated by surgery or radiosurgery. We have analysed two series of data from Institut Curie (Paris and Saint-Cloud). In women younger than 65 years, with HER2 negative breast carcinoma, median survival was 7.1 months. In women older than 65 years, median survival was 4 months.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Brain Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Brain Neoplasms / mortality
  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Breast Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cancer Care Facilities / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • France / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / physiopathology
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies