Number of metastases, serum lactate dehydrogenase level, and type of treatment are prognostic factors in patients with brain metastases of malignant melanoma.

BACKGROUND

This multicenter study aimed to identify prognostic factors in patients with brain metastases from malignant melanoma (BM-MM).

METHODS

In a retrospective survey in 9 cancer centers of the German Cancer Society, 692 patients were identified with BM-MM during the period 1986 through 2007. Overall survival was analyzed using a Kaplan-Meier estimator and compared with log-rank analysis. Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify prognostic factors significant for survival.

RESULTS

The median overall survival of the entire cohort was 5.0 months (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 4 months-5 months). Significant prognostic factors in the univariate Kaplan-Meier analysis were Karnofsky performance status (≥70% vs <70%; P < .001), number of BM-MM (single vs multiple; P < .001), pretreatment levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (normal vs elevated; P < .001) and S-100 (normal vs elevated; P < .001), prognostic groups according to Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (class I vs class II vs class III; P = .0485), and treatment choice (for the cohort with single BM-MM only) (stereotactic radiotherapy or neurosurgical metastasectomy vs others; P = .036). Cox proportional hazards models revealed pretreatment elevated level of serum LDH (hazard ratio [HR], 1.6; 95% CI, 1.3-2.0 [P = .00013]) and number of BM-MM (HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.3-2.0 [P = .00011]) to be independent prognostic variables in the entire cohort, whereas in patients with a single BM-MM, treatment choice (HR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-1.9 [P = .0061]) was identified as a unique prognostic factor.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall survival of patients with BM-MM primarily depends on the number of metastases and pretreatment level of LDH. In the case of a single brain metastasis, stereotactic radiotherapy or neurosurgical metastasectomy is by far the most important factor for improving survival.