Prognostic Factors in Adult Patients with Solid Cancers and Bone Marrow Metastases

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Solid cancers with bone marrow metastases are rare but lethal. This study aimed to identifyclinical factors predictive of survival in adult patients with solid cancers and bone marrow metastases. <br/><b>Methods</b>:A total of 83 patients were enrolled consecutively between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2012. Bonemarrow metastases were confirmed by biopsies. Patient clinical features and laboratory data were analyzed forassociations. <br/><b>Results</b>: The median age of the patients was 54 years (range, 23–88 years), and 58% were male. The3 most common primary tumor locations were the stomach (32 patients, 39%), prostate (16 patients, 19%), andlungs (12 patients, 15%). The median overall survival was 49 days (range, 3–1423 days). Patients with EasternCooperative Oncology Group performance status 1, cancers of prostate origin, platelet counts over 50,000/ml,and undergoing antitumor therapies had a significantly better prognosis in the multivariate analysis. The mediansurvival times were 173 and 33 days for patients with 2-3 more favorable parameters (n=24) and those with0-1 (n=69), respectively (hazard ratio 0.30; 95% CI 0.17-0.52, p<0.001). <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: Solid cancers with bonemarrow metastases are dismal and incurable diseases. Understanding prognostic factors to these diseases helpsmedical personnel to provide appropriate treatments and better inform patients about outcomes. Antitumortherapies may improve outcomes in selected patient cohorts.