Factors Prognostic for Brain Metastases from Colorectal Cancer: A Single-Center Experience in China

PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze clinicopathological, survival, prognostic factors, as well as the timing of brain metastases (BM) in colorectal cancer (CRC) using data from a Chinese center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data of 65 consecutive CRC patients with BM were collected from a single institution in China. The time from primary tumor surgery to the occurrence of BM was calculated. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate cumulative survival of patients. Factors associated with prognosis of overall survival (OS) were explored using Cox’s proportional hazard regression models. RESULTS: The median time interval from CRC surgery to the diagnosis of BM was 24 months. After diagnosis of BM, median OS values for patients were 11 months. Extracranial metastases occurred in 45 cases (69.2%) when BM was diagnosed, and 58.5% of these patients with lung metastases Time of BMs (P=0.018), presence of extracranial metastases (P=0.033), treatment (P=0.003), CA199 (P=0.034), CA125 (P<0.001), CA242 (P=0.018), and CA211 (P=0.012) were associated with OS of patients through univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis using a Cox regression model showed that only treatment was an independent predictor for OS (conservative treatment; HR=1.861, 95% CI=1.077–3.441; P=0.048). CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of metastatic lesions may be an alternative choice for CRC patients with BM. Identifying the timing of brain metastases can help to detect this disease early, leading to a better survival outcome.