Local therapy in metastatic breast cancer is associated with improved survival

Patients presenting with stage-IV breast cancer are usually offered systemic chemotherapy to control metastatic tumor burden and palliative radiation therapy to manage the symptomatic primary tumor. The aim of this study was to assess the result of local therapy on the overall outcome of patients with metastatic breast cancer. We reviewed medical records of all patients with metastatic breast cancer that presented to our institution between 2000 and 2009. Based on the treatment received, the patients were grouped as follows: group 1 included patients who underwent surgery and also received radiotherapy and chemotherapy/hormonal therapy, group 2 included patients who received radiotherapy and chemotherapy/hormonal therapy only, and group 3 included patients who received chemotherapy/hormonal therapy alone. Of the 37 patients included in the study, 10 patients were placed in group 1, 17 patients in group 2, and 10 patients in group 3. About 38% had high to anaplastic tumor grade, and 48% had ≥2 metastatic sites in the body. Overall, the average survival time was 3.13 years (range: 0-17 years). A significant difference in survival estimates was noted between groups 1, 2, and 3 with mean survival times of 8.83, 4.9, and 2.26 years, respectively (log rank χ = 10.44, P = 0.005). In age-adjusted multivariate Cox regression model (χ = 21.729, P= 0.001), high/anaplastic tumor grade (P = 0.036), African American race (P = 0.009), central nervous system metastasis (P = 0.003), group 2 (P = 0.006), and group 3 (P = 0.002) were associated with poor survival. Survival was not associated with estrogen and progesterone receptor and visceral or bone metastases. We conclude that aggressive local control of primary tumor in patients presenting with stage-IV breast cancer is associated with improved survival.