A survival score for patients assigned to palliative radiotherapy for metastatic bladder cancer

Aim: To create a survival score for patients with metastatic bladder cancer. Patients and Methods: In 46 irradiated patients, six characteristics were evaluated for their association with survival: Age, gender, Karnofsky performance scale, initial stage (American Joint Committee on Cancer), number of metastatic sites, and interval between bladder cancer diagnosis and palliative radiotherapy. Characteristics showing a trend (p<0.15) were incorporated into the score. Six-month survival rates were divided by 10. Patients' scores were derived by totaling the scores of these characteristics. Results: Performance scale (p=0.14), stage (p=0.055) and number of metastatic sites (p=0.10) showed a trend for association with survival. Patients' scores were 6, 7, 8, 10 or 12 points, with corresponding 6-month survival rates of 20%, 0%, 0%, 46% and 45% (p=0.038). Two groups were created, with 6-8 and with 10-12 points, with 6-month survival rates of 9% and 46% (p=0.002), respectively. Conclusion: A new survival score was developed. Patients with 6-8 points should receive less aggressive treatments for metastatic bladder cancer. Those with 10-12 points may receive more intensive approaches.