Abstract
BACKGROUND: The prognosis of breast cancer patients with brain metastasis (BM) is extremely poor, and the survival after development of BM is very short. We aimed to investigate clinicopathological factors related to significant effects on the prognosis after BM development. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 75 early breast cancer patients who received the standard of care and subsequently developed BM. RESULTS: Breast cancer subtype was one of the significant predictors for prognosis after BM diagnosis. Luminal HER2 patients had the most favorable prognosis after BM diagnosis (p = 0.011). Favorable performance status (PS) at BM diagnosis (p < 0.001) and a single metastatic brain tumor (p = 0.032) were significantly associated with good prognosis after BM diagnosis. Metastatic time courses of the patients was found not to be significantly associated with survival after BM diagnosis. Univariate and multivariate analysis indicated that luminal HER2 cancer, favorable PS at BM diagnosis, and a single metastatic brain tumor were the independent prognostic factors for survival after BM development, making a decisive influence on local or systemic control. CONCLUSION: Appropriate treatments for tumor subtypes and to improve the general condition of patients would result in improved outcomes for the patients with BM.