Survival and level of care among breast cancer patients with brain metastases treated with whole brain radiotherapy.

Purpose: The benefit of whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for late stage breast cancer patients with brain metastases has been questioned. In this study we evaluated survival and level of care (hospital or home) following WBRT in a population-based cohort by personal and tumor characteristics.

Methods: We identified 241 consecutive patients with breast cancer and brain metastases receiving WBRT in Stockholm, Sweden, 1999-2012.

Mast cells in squamous cell esophageal carcinoma and clinical parameters.

Background: Esophageal carcinoma is a malignancy with a poor prognosis and new treatment modalities must be sought. One possibility that has been tested in patients with malignant melanoma is treatment which aims towards boosting the immune system. In the present study, we investigated the role of mast cells in patients with esophageal carcinoma.