RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A Simple Implement for Assessing the Survival of Elderly Patients With Melanoma Irradiated for Cerebral Metastases
JF In Vivo
JO In Vivo
FD International Institute of Anticancer Research
SP 1361
OP 1364
DO 10.21873/invivo.11914
VO 34
IS 3
A1 NGUYEN, TRANG
A1 JANSSEN, STEFAN
A1 SCHILD, STEVEN E.
A1 RADES, DIRK
YR 2020
UL http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/34/3/1361.abstract
AB Background/Aim: Secondary brain lesions occur commonly in patients with advanced melanoma. Despite increasing use of local therapies, many elderly patients qualify for whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT). For these patients, a survival score was created. Patients and Methods: Seven characteristics were retrospectively investigated in 35 elderly (≥65 years) patients with melanoma, namely WBRT regimen, age, gender, Karnofsky performance score (KPS), number of brain lesions, non-cerebral metastases and interval from melanoma diagnosis to WBRT. Results: Age ≤71 years (p=0.044) and KPS ≥80% (p=0.005) were significantly associated with more favorable survival. Based on these characteristics, patients received 0 (n=13), 1 (n=12) or 2 points (n=10). Two prognostic groups were designed, 0 or 1 point vs. 2 points, with actuarial 6-month survival rates of 12% and 48%, respectively (p=0.002). Conclusion: This simple implement allows quick estimation of the survival of elderly patients receiving WBRT for cerebral metastases from melanoma.