Whole-brain radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with breast cancer and brain metastases

Objective: This paper aims to explore the effects of whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and chemotherapy on patients with breast cancer and brain metastases (BCBM) and on their quality of life (QOL). Methods: Fifty-eight patients with BCBM were recruited as the study cohort and randomly divided into a control group and a study group. The patients in the control group underwent WBRT. Their radiotherapy scheme was as follows: the fractionation was 2.0 Gy/time, and the total dosage was 60 Gy, 5 times/week for 6 weeks. The patients in the study group underwent WBRT plus chemotherapy. Their radiotherapy scheme was the same as the control group's. Their chemotherapy scheme was as follows: carboplatin (0.3 g/m(2)) was intravenously injected every day, and the injection was repeated once four weeks later. After the treatment, the patients' adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Their Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scores were also compared to analyze the effects of WBRT plus chemotherapy and radiotherapy alone on the patients' survival statuses. Results: After the treatment, the adverse reactions were not significantly different in the two groups (P>0.05). The objective remission rate in the study group was 79.31%, which was higher than the 34.48% rate in the control group (P=0.001). According to the KPS scores, the QOL of the patients in the study group was significantly improved after the treatment, and the difference was statistically significant compared with the QOL in the control group (P<0.001). The overall survival and the progression-free survival in the study group were longer than they were in the control group (both P<0.01). Conclusion: Compared with WBRT alone, WBRT plus chemotherapy is safe and markedly effective in treating patients with BCBM, and it can improve their QOL and prolong their survival times. Therefore, this combined treatment is worthy of clinical application and further research.