The effect of radiation therapy on brain metastases from endometrial carcinoma: A retrospective study

Objective. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of radiation therapy as a treatment for brain metastases from endometrial carcinoma. Methods. Between July 1985 and November 1999, 10 patients with brain metast ases from endometrial carcinoma were treated at the Cleveland Clinic. We re viewed the patient and tumor characteristics at the time of the primary dia gnosis and the brain metastases diagnosis. For the 8 patients who received radiation therapy with or without surgery, we analyzed the treatment result s with regard to survival and local control of the metastases. Results. Brain metastases from endometrial carcinoma were commonly accompan ied by uncontrolled local-regional disease and systemic metastases. Multipl e brain lesions developed in 7 of 10 patients. Two patients were treated wi th surgery alone and had a median survival of 2.75 months (4 and 1.5 months ) after the brain metastases diagnosis. Three patients were treated with su rgery and radiation therapy and lived for a median survival of 15 months (r ange 11.5 to 15.5 months). The 5 patients who were treated with radiation t herapy without surgery had a median survival of 2.4 months (range 0.25 to 6 months). Patients with multiple brain metastases had a shorter survival th an patients with a single metastasis. Conclusion. Overall survival after brain metastases development in patients with endometrial carcinoma was poor. Although the number of patients was s mall, radiation therapy alone resulted in poor survival. Combination treatm ent with surgery and radiation therapy may improve survival for selected pa tients. (C) 2001 Academic Press.