Table 1 Patient characteristics
Variable | N | % |
|---|---|---|
Primary tumor and matched brain metastases (N = 84) | ||
Primary tumor histology | ||
Ductal | 70 | 83 |
Lobular | 7 | 8 |
Ductal and lobular | 2 | 2 |
Other | 2 | 2 |
Uncertain | 3 | 4 |
Primary tumor grade | ||
1 | 6 | 7 |
2 | 35 | 42 |
3 | 39 | 46 |
Unknown | 4 | 5 |
Primary tumor ERα (IHC) | ||
Negative | 42 | 50 |
Positive | 42 | 50 |
Primary tumor PR (IHC) | ||
Negative | 52 | 62 |
Positive | 31 | 37 |
Unknown | 1 | 1 |
Primary tumor HER2 (IHC) | ||
0 | 21 | 25 |
1 | 18 | 21 |
2 | 9 | 11 |
3 | 36 | 43 |
Primary tumor HER2 amplification (FISH; performed in 16 cases) | ||
No | 10 | 63 |
Yes | 6 | 37 |
Primary tumor phenotypes | ||
HR−/HER2− | 21 | 25 |
HR+/HER2− | 23 | 27 |
HR+/HER2+ | 21 | 25 |
HR−/HER2+ | 19 | 23 |
BCBM phenotypes | ||
HR−/HER2− | 24 | 29 |
HR+/HER2− | 16 | 19 |
HR+/HER2+ | 19 | 23 |
HR−/HER2+ | 24 | 29 |
Unknown | 1 | 1 |
Radiotherapy | ||
No | 24 | 29 |
Adjuvant | 27 | 32 |
Definitive | 4 | 5 |
Palliative | 12 | 14 |
Combination thereof | 14 | 17 |
Unknown | 3 | 6 |
Chemotherapy | ||
Induction | 52 | 62 |
Adjuvant | 35 | 42 |
For metastatic disease | 4 | 5 |
Combination thereof | 36 | 43 |
Unknown | 5 | 6 |
Endocrine therapy | ||
No | 42 | 50 |
Adjuvant | 24 | 29 |
For metastatic disease | 5 | 6 |
Combination thereof | 11 | 13 |
Unknown | 2 | 2 |
Trastuzumab in HER2+ patients (adjuvant or metastatic setting) before BCBM | ||
No | 19 | 47 |
Yes | 20 | 50 |
Unknown | 1 | 3 |
Type of first progression | ||
Regional | 5 | 6 |
Distant | 75 | 89 |
Local/regional and distant | 3 | 4 |
Unknown | 1 | 1 |
Dominant site of metastatic disease | ||
Soft tissue | 3 | 4 |
Bone | 4 | 5 |
Visceral | 76 | 90 |
Unknown | 1 | 1 |
BCBM as first relapse | ||
No | 36 | 43 |
Yes | 47 | 56 |
Number of BCBM | ||
1 | 51 | 61 |
1–3 | 20 | 24 |
>3 | 10 | 12 |
Unknown | 3 | 4 |
BCBM sites | ||
Cerebellum | 22 | 26 |
Parietal lobe | 19 | 23 |
Frontal lobe | 14 | 17 |
Temporal lobe | 6 | 7 |
Occipital lobe | 8 | 10 |
Other | 2 | 2 |
Combination thereof | 6 | 13 |
Unknown | 2 | 2 |
Radiotherapy after BCBM excision | ||
No | 15 | 18 |
Yes | 63 | 75 |
Unknown | 6 | 7 |
Chemotherapy after BCBM excision | ||
No | 38 | 45 |
Yes | 37 | 44 |
Unknown | 9 | 11 |
Endocrine therapy after BCBM excision in ERα/PR+ primary breast cancer | ||
No | 62 | 74 |
Yes | 15 | 18 |
Unknown | 7 | 8 |
Trastuzumab after BCBM excision in HER2+ primary breast cancer | ||
No | 32 | 78 |
Yes | 8 | 20 |
Unknown | 1 | 2 |
Lapatinib after BCBM excision in HER2+ primary breast cancer | ||
No | 14 | 17 |
Yes | 8 | 10 |
Alive at last follow up | ||
No | 75 | 89 |
Yes | 9 | 11 |
Age at breast cancer diagnosis; mean (range) years | 49 (28–80) | |
Age at BCBM diagnosis; mean (range) years | 53 (30–81) | |