Survival and quality of life after first-time diagnosis of brain metastases: a multicenter, prospective, observational study

Abstract

Background: A major concern in anticancer treatment (ACT) of brain metastases (BM) is exposing patients with short expected survival to treatments that negatively impact on quality of life (QoL). Such futile ACT at the end of life is time-consuming and burdensome for patients and their families and entails unnecessary healthcare costs. Refraining from ACT is challenging for both physicians and patients. This study aimed to provide real-life data on survival after BM diagnosis and patient reported outcomes (PROs) after ACT to identify risk factors for futile treatment and to support BM treatment decisions. Methods: This multi-center, prospective, observational study recruited consecutive patients with first-time BM from November 2017 to March 2021. Patients were followed until death or study end (October 1st, 2023). Clinical factors associated with survival were analyzed by the Cox' proportional hazards model. Changes in PROs after BM treatment were described according to Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (E

Survival and quality of life after first-time diagnosis of brain metastases: a multicenter, prospective, observational study