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Updated: Jul 8, 2025
Models of Bone Metastasis
Published on: September 4, 2012
Clinical features and prognosis of cardiac metastatic tumors
Zhongqiao Lin1,2, Huazhen Xiao3, Jun Liu4,2
1Phase I Clinical Trial Ward, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350000, China.
Insights
Continuing antitumor therapy for cardiac metastases significantly improves survival in cancer patients. Cardiac tumor response mirrors primary tumor response, highlighting the importance of sustained treatment for better prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cardiology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Cardiac metastatic tumors represent a significant clinical challenge.
- Understanding their prognosis and the impact of continued therapy is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore clinical features and prognosis of cardiac metastatic tumors.
- To investigate the benefit of continuing antitumor therapy post-metastasis.
- To assess the response of cardiac metastases to treatment.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of cancer patients with cardiac metastases (Jan 2007-Mar 2023).
- Inclusion of clinical data, treatment efficacy evaluation, and survival analysis.
- Comparison of survival outcomes between patients who continued and withdrew from treatment.
Main Results:
- Continued treatment yielded an average survival of 27.33 months vs. 6.6 months for those who withdrew (P < 0.001).
- Cardiac metastasis response correlated with primary tumor response.
- Patients with cardiac response had a median survival of 55.60 months vs. 13.40 months.
Conclusions:
- Continuing antitumor therapy significantly prolongs survival in patients with cardiac metastases.
- Cardiac and primary tumors exhibit consistent responses to antitumor treatments.
- Further investigation into heart failure risk in this patient group is warranted.
Background:
This study aimed to explore the clinical features and prognosis of cardiac metastatic tumors. In addition, whether continuing antitumor therapy after the development of cardiac metastases can benefit patients and the response of cardiac metastases were investigated.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with malignancies who were admitted to Fujian Cancer Hospital and Fujian Provincial Hospital from January 2007 to September 2022, and the follow-up period ended in March 2023. Clinical data were gathered, treatment efficacy was evaluated, and survival analysis was performed.
Results:
After the patients developed cardiac metastasis, the overall 30-day, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month survival rates were 85.00%, 59.00%, 51.00% and 38.00%, respectively. With continued treatment, the average survival time was 27.33 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 16.88-37.79), which exceeded the 6.6 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.03-13.69) observed for patients who withdrew from treatment (P < 0.001). The responses of cardiac metastases corresponded to the responses of the primary tumors. Patients with a cardiac response had a median survival time of 55.60 months, which exceeded the 13.40 months observed for those without a cardiac response. However, there was no significant difference (P = 0.375).
Conclusions:
In conclusion, continuing antitumor therapy after the development of cardiac metastases can significantly prolong patient survival. Cardiac metastases and primary tumors respond consistently to antitumor treatment. The risk of death due to heart failure in cancer patients with cardiac metastases needs to be further investigated.
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