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. 2011 Feb 1;16(2):49-53.
doi: 10.1016/j.rpor.2011.01.002. eCollection 2011.

Characteristics of long-term survivors of brain metastases from lung cancer

Milena Niemiec  1 , Maciej Głogowski  2 , Dobromira Tyc-Szczepaniak  1 , Marek Wierzchowski  1 , Lucyna Kępka  1
Affiliations

Characteristics of long-term survivors of brain metastases from lung cancer

Milena Niemiec et al. Rep Pract Oncol Radiother. .

Abstract

Background and aim: Long-term survival of lung cancer patients with brain metastases (BM) is very rare. Our aim is to report the characteristics of patients who survived for at least three years after a BM diagnosis.

Materials and methods: Nineteen lung cancer patients who had survived ≥3 years after a BM diagnosis were identified in our database. Seven (37%) had undergone whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) only, five (26%) BM surgery + WBRT, three (16%) BM surgery + WBRT + BM radiosurgery, and four (21%) no WBRT (one, surgery; one, radiosurgery; two, BM surgery + radiosurgery). Their characteristics were compared with historical data for 322 lung cancer patients with BM (control group, CG), who had received WBRT between 1986 and 1997.

Results: Median survival from BM in long survivors group was 73 months (in CG - 4 months). Characteristics comparison: median age 55 vs. 58 (CG), p = 0.16; female sex 68% vs. 28% (CG), p = 0.003; RTOG/RPA class 1 - 75% vs. 13% (CG), p = 0.00001; adenocarcinoma histology 84% vs. 24% (CG), p < 0.00001; control of primary tumor 95% vs. 27% (CG), p < 0.00001; extracranial metastases 0 vs. 26% (CG), p = 0.01; single BM 63% vs. 9% (CG), p = 0.00001; surgery of BM 53% vs. 14% (CG), p = 0.00001.

Conclusions: Beside prognostic factors already recognized as favorable in patients with BM, the adenocarcinoma histology and female sex were prevalent in long-term survivors of BM from lung cancer.

Keywords: Adenocarcinoma; Brain metastases; Female; Long-term survival; Lung cancer.

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