Prognostic factors after whole-brain radiotherapy alone for melanoma brain metastases

December 14, 2016

Abstract

Background/Aim

Many patients with brain metastases from melanoma receive whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT). WBRT-regimens must consider the patient's prognosis in order to deliver the best therapy.

Patients and Methods

Seven factors were correlated to intracerebral control and survival after WBRT alone in 92 patients with melanoma: WBRT regimen, age at WBRT, gender, Karnofsky performance score (KPS), number of brain lesions, number of extracranial metastatic sites, and time from melanoma diagnosis to WBRT. Results: On univariate analyses, KPS ≥80 (p=0.075) showed a trend towards improved intracerebral control. Greater WBRT dose (p=0.029), age ≤60 years (p=0.002), KPS ≥80 (p<0.001) and no extracranial site (p=0.008) were positively correlated with survival. On multivariate analyses, KPS (hazard ratio=2.11, 95% confidence interval=1.28-3.47; p=0.003) and number of extracranial metastatic sites (hazard ratio=1.27, 95% confidence interval=1.02-1.56; p=0.030) maintained significance regarding survival.

Conclusion 

The study identified predictors of survival for patients with melanoma receiving WBRT for brain metastases that can contribute to selection of individualized therapies.

Source:

Rades, D.  Prognostic Factors After Whole-brain Radiotherapy Alone for Brain Metastases from Malignant Melanoma.  Anticancer Research. December 2016; 36(12): 6637-6640.  http://ar.iiarjournals.org/con...