Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41872509›Full record

ArticleJournal of neuro-oncology2026

Brain metastases from colorectal cancer - a retrospective dual center study.

S Müller, A Hendricks, K Uttinger, M Kostatin, M Brüggemann, M Schrader, B Polat, S Flemming, J F Lock, C-T Germer and 2 more

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neuro-oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

S MüllerDepartment of General, Visceral, Transplant, Vascular and Paediatric Surgery, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany.
A HendricksDepartment of General, Visceral, Transplant, Vascular and Paediatric Surgery, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany.
K UttingerDepartment of General, Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60596, Frankfurt, Germany.
M KostatinDepartment of General, Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60596, Frankfurt, Germany.
M BrüggemannDepartment of General, Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60596, Frankfurt, Germany.
M SchraderDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany.
B PolatDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany.
S FlemmingDepartment of General, Visceral, Transplant, Vascular and Paediatric Surgery, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany.
J F LockDepartment of General, Visceral, Transplant, Vascular and Paediatric Surgery, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany.
C-T GermerDepartment of General, Visceral, Transplant, Vascular and Paediatric Surgery, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany.
A WiegeringDepartment of General, Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60596, Frankfurt, Germany. armin.wiegering@ukffm.de.
U PessionDepartment of General, Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60596, Frankfurt, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlthough brain metastases (BM) represent an uncommon manifestation of colorectal cancer (CRC), their occurrence is associated with a markedly reduced life expectancy. Advances in systemic therapies and neuroimaging have led to a growing number of detected cases. However, data on prognostic markers and optimal management still remain limited. This dual center analysis from two major German cancer centers sought to describe clinical characteristics, treatment approaches and survival determinants in patients with CRC who developed BM.

methodsAll individuals diagnosed with CRC and subsequent BM between January 2000 and December 2024 were retrospectively identified from the tumor registries of the University Hospitals Wuerzburg and Frankfurt. Demographic, pathological and therapeutic parameters were extracted and analyzed. Overall survival following BM diagnosis was assessed using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model with backward stepwise likelihood ratio selection (entry criterion p < 0.05, removal p > 0.10). Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.

resultsThe study included 279 patients (Wuerzburg 48.4%, Frankfurt 51.6%). The mean age at CRC diagnosis was 62.1 years and at BM diagnosis 65.1 years; 61.6% of the patients were male. The median interval between CRC diagnosis and BM detection in metachronous patients was 40.5 months, with 11.1% exhibiting synchronous BM. Liver, lung, and bone metastases were present in 50.9%, 64.2%, and 22.6% of patients, respectively. Among tested cases, KRAS mutations were found in 54.2%. Surgical resection of BM was undertaken in 36.2%, and radiotherapy in 67.0%. On multivariable analysis, Karnfosky Performance Status emerged as independent predictors of prolonged survival (HR = 0.98; 95% CI 0.97-1-00; p = 0.008). Brain metastasis surgery showed a borderline association with improved survival (HR 0.51; 95% CI 0.26-1.00; p = 0.050). Median survival from the time of BM diagnosis was 20 months (95% CI 14.140-25.860) in the operated group compared with 3 months (95% CI 2.089-3.911) in the non-operated group.

conclusionPatients with CRC who develop BM are a subgroup with heterogeneous courses of disease. In addition to KPS, surgical resection of BM was associated with improved survival. This emphasizing the benefit of local treatment in appropriately cases. Collaborative, prospective studies are required to validate these findings and to refine therapeutic strategies for this rare entity.

Indexed as

Brain NeoplasmsColorectal NeoplasmsAgedFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisRetrospective StudiesSurvival RateBrain metastasesColorectal cancerCRCTumour

Identifiers

PMID41872509
PMCPMC13008991

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.