Survival analysis of patients with breast cancer and secondary brain metastasis: a retrospective cohort

Introduction: The presence of brain metastases secondary to primary breast cancer implies a worse prognosis for those affected. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the median survival after the diagnosis of brain metastasis in patients with breast carcinoma in a center in northeastern Brazil. Methods: The medical records of 345 patients diagnosed with breast cancer, treated between 1998 and July 2018, were analyzed. Those with brain metastasis along with their treatment performed and survival were identified. Results: Nine (2.6%) patients had brain metastasis; the mean age was 56.8 years. The mean survival time determined by the Kaplan-Meier method was 23.8 months (95%CI 6.9­40.8). Seven patients (78%) died from the disease and two were lost to follow-up (22%); invasive carcinoma of no special type was the most frequent (78%). Molecular classification by immunohistochemistry was possible in seven patients: five luminal B subtype cases, one luminal A case and one triple-negative case; luminal B subtype was associated with longer survival: 23.3 months (95%CI 3.0­43.6). As for the initial clinical staging, according to the TNM Classification of Malignant Tumors, there was one IA case, one IIA case, three IIB cases and two IIIB cases. Three patients underwent modified radical mastectomy, and six underwent conservative treatment (quadrantectomy); there was no statistical difference in survival between the different forms of treatment (p=0.771). Conclusion: The median survival after diagnosis of brain metastasis from breast cancer was 23.80 months.