Platinum Sensitivity as an Independent Prognostic Factor in Patients with Brain Metastases from Ovarian Carcinoma

Background: The brain is a rare site of metastases from ovarian cancer. Limited data are available on prognostic factors, standard treatment, and survival. Knowledge of clinical prognostic factors would help the management of patients with brain metastases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of clinical factors and treatment modalities on survival in patients with brain metastases from ovarian cancer. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of an electronic database of patients with brain metastases from ovarian primary treated at Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology. Results: A total of 20 patients with brain metastases from an ovarian primary were treated from April 2001-February 2011. Median age at occurrence of brain metastases was 55 years. The median time from primary diagnosis to occurrence of brain metastases was 23 months. Median overall survival from diagnosis of brain metastases was 9 months. Poor ECOG performance status, platinum resistance, and advanced FIGO staging were the most significant adverse variables identified. Median survival was 13 months for platinum sensitive patients and 6 months for platinum resistant patients. Conclusion: Platinum sensitivity is an important prognostic factor in patients with brain metastases from an ovarian primary tumor. Multimodal therapy that consists of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy should be considered where feasible.