# Frequency Survey of Brain Metastases and Its Associated Factors Among Iranian Women with Breast Cancer: A Cross-sectional Study in Tehran City

## TL;DR

This study found that younger Iranian women with breast cancer and certain receptor types are more likely to develop brain metastases.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific risk factors for brain metastases in Iranian breast cancer patients, including HER2 and P53 positivity.

## Key findings

- 16.2% of 302 breast cancer patients had brain metastases.
- HER2 and P53 positivity were significantly associated with brain metastases.
- Younger age and invasive ductal carcinoma were linked to higher metastasis risk.

## Abstract

Background: Brain metastases are serious complication of breast cancer (BC) that
poses a critical management challenge. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate
clinical findings, the status of hormonal receptors, and their correlation with
brain metastasis among patients with BC. Materials and Methods: This
cross-sectional study was performed on women with BC that was newly diagnosed
with brain metastasis from 2020 to 2023. Also, hormonal receptor status (such as
p53, estrogen receptor [ER], progesterone receptor [PR], human epidermal growth
factor2 [HER2]), histopathological type of BC, duration of disease, type of
treatment, local cerebral invasions, and initial presentations were recorded. A
P-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistical significance. Results: Of a
total of 302 patients, 49 (16.2%) patients had brain metastasis. The mean age of
patients was 45.21±8.3 years, which was significantly lower in patients with
metastasis (45.96±11.31 vs. 51.13±12.61 years, P=0.008). There was a significant
association between the duration of disease in patients with and without brain
metastasis (2.76±1.03 vs. 5.55±3.32 years, P=0.002). Also, the most prevalent
histopathological type of BC was invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Headache was
the most common clinical presentation among patients with brain metastasis. In
addition, the most and the least common positive receptors among patients with
metastasis were Ki-67 (93.87%) and PR (55.1%), respectively. Compared to
patients without metastasis, HER2-positive and P53-positive receptors were
markedly associated with brain metastasis (P=0.03 and P=0.021, respectively).
However, there was no significant association between treatment methods and
metastasis status.Conclusion: Patients with younger age, IDC, and positivity of
HER2 and P53 receptors were at an increased risk of developing brain metastases.