Analysis of clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of patients with metastatic breast cancer

Objective: To analyze the clinicopathological features and survival for patients with MBC (metastatic breast cancer) at a single institution, and to establish prognostic factors for MBC. Methods: A total of 280 female patients with MBC were recruited between January 2004 and December 2006 at a single institution previously receiving complete anticancer treatment and with accurate and complete clinical and follow-up information. The clinicopathological characteristics, the patterns of recurrence and metastasis and the survival were retrospectively analyzed. The univariate and multivariate analyses of prognosis were performed by Kaplan-Meier method and COX proportional-hazard regression model, respectively. Results: The median PFS (progression-free survival) was 9 months (1-93 months), the median OS (overall survival) after recurrence was 45 months (2-99 months), and the one-, three- and five-year survival rates were 91.1%, 59.5% and 36.9%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that pathological type, lymphovascular invasion, hormone receptor status, molecular subtype, DFS (disease-free survival), visceral metastasis, the number of first metastatic sites, liver metastasis, brain metastasis, palliative endocrine therapy and palliative radiotherapy had significant impacts on the OS (P < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, lymphovascular invasion, molecular subtype, visceral metastasis, and liver metastasis were independent prognostic factors (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The factors of lymphovascular invasion, triple-negative breast cancer, visceral metastasis and liver metastasis are independent predictors of poor prognosis. These fundamental observations may assist physicians in evaluating the survival potential and determining the appropriate therapeutic decision for patients with MBC. DOI:10.3781/j.issn.1000-7431.2012.08.008