Brain Metastasis and Renal Cell Carcinoma: Prognostic Scores Assessment in the Era of Targeted Therapies

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed at exploring several brain metastatic prognostic scores in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Patients and methods: We retrospectively analyzed data of 93 metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients who were diagnosed with brain metastases between October 2005 and July 2016 who received targeted therapy. Potential prognostic factors (RTOG RPA, BS-BM, and a newly developed score CERENAL) were analyzed.

Results: A total of 75 patients received targeted therapy. All scores showed prognostic value in progression-free survival after first-line treatment with CERENAL being the sole independent prognostic factor associated with improved duration of first-line treatment. Both RTOG RPA and CERENAL were potential prognosticators for overall survival, whereas only the CERENAL score was associated with prolonged disease-specific survival.

Conclusion: Several prognostic scores can be useful to predict survival of patients with brain metastases from renal cancer, especially the newly developed CERENAL score.

Keywords: Brain metastasis; prognostic factors; renal cell carcinoma; survival.