Blood Parameter Analysis Establish Prognosis for Brain Metastases Patients

Certain laboratory results, which have previously not been used specifically for this purpose, can help to predict survival in patients with newly diagnosed brain metastases and to decide on the most appropriate treatment strategy.

Brain metastases are secondary tumors that have spread from primary tumors at other sites in the body such as lungs, breast or skin, for example. Approximately 40% of all patients with metastasized cancer develop metastases in their brain.

Scientists at the Medical University of Vienna (Austria ) conducted a study which included 1,201 patients with different primary cancers. They analyzed blood parameters that had not so far been included in oncological prognosis scores. The results show that subnormal levels of red blood pigment (hemoglobin), blood platelets (thrombocytes), white blood cells (leucocytes) and albumin (the main plasma protein) and elevated levels of serum creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase and the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP) were associated with poorer survival from brain metastases.

The commonest type of malignant brain tumors, are difficult to treat, often cause severe symptoms, such as intense headaches, neurological problems or epilepsy and are often associated with a limited life expectancy. Nevertheless, there are some patients who survive for a long time, despite their brain metastases. Anna Sophie Berghoff, PhD, the lead author of the study, said, “We asked ourselves whether there are any objective parameters that can provide us with a more stable basis for establishing an accurate prognosis for patients. This is not only important for estimating their life expectancy or for their inclusion in clinical studies but also for deciding on the most appropriate treatment for them.”

Dr. Berghoff, added, “This study has enabled us to show that the investigated parameters have a strong, independent prognostic impact and are therefore to be regarded as objective parameters. This is particularly true of hemoglobin levels and the concentration of CRP and lactate dehydrogenase." The team is now recommending that the last three parameters, in particular, be tested in follow-up studies for inclusion in prognosis scores. The study was presented at the European Cancer Congress ECC2015, held September 25–29, 2015, in Vienna (Austria).

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Medical University of Vienna