Does brain radiotherapy improve survival in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with brain metastasis?

BACKGROUND

To investigate the clinical characteristics, influencing factors, and their impact on survival in patients with brain metastases from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (BM-ESCC).

METHODS

A total of 67 patients with patients with newly diagnosed BM-ESCC were retrospectively analyzed from December 2000 to December 2016, in order to examine the correlation between clinicopathological characteristics and brain metastases, and between brain metastases and survival.

RESULTS

The number of BM-ESCC was positively correlated with T and N stages (P<0.05). The higher the T and N stages, the higher the incidence. The median survival time was 9.65 months. N stage was an independent risk factor for BM-ESCC. N0 + N1 was associated with a lower risk of brain metastases (P<0.05). Patients with 1 brain metastasis had a significantly longer survival than those with 2 and 3 brain metastases. N stage-stratified analysis revealed that N0 + N1 patients had a longer survival than N2 and N3 patients (P<0.05). Cox regression analysis revealed that mortality in T3 + T4 patients was 2.337 times that of Tis + T1 patients; mortality in N3 patients was 3.486 times that of N0 + N1 patients; and mortality in untreated patients was 2.772 times that of those treated with whole brain radiotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The number of BM-ESCC is correlated to T and N stages. The higher the N stage, the higher risk of brain metastases. The higher of T and N stages in ESCC, the worse in prognosis. Whole brain radiotherapy could offer greater survival benefits.