Clinical features and treatment of bone marrow metastasis

Abstract

Bone marrow metastasis (BMM) refers to the metastasis of malignant tumours originating from nonhematopoietic tissues to the bone marrow. The nonhematopoietic malignant tumour cells metastasize to the bone marrow via heterogeneous dissemination or direct invasion to form metastases and the bone marrow is infiltrated by tumour cells, resulting in the destruction of its structure and the development of haematopoietic disorders. In the present study, the clinical characteristics, prognosis and treatment of BMMs were investigated. The main clinical manifestations were moderate anaemia and thrombocytopenia. Out of 52 cases, a total of 18 patients were not treated and the remaining patients underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery or autologous stem cell transplantation in the Affiliated Tumour Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from September 2010 to October 2021. The primary tumours of bone marrow metastatic cancer were usually neuroblastoma and tumours originating from the breast and stomach. When bone metastases occur, patients are not necessarily accompanied by BMMs. In the present study, bone metastases occurred mainly in patients with breast and prostate cancers. The median overall survival of patients treated with antitumor therapy was significantly higher than that of untreated patients (11.5 vs. 3.3 months P<0.01). For patients with BMM, it is of great importance to actively evaluate the patient's condition and select the appropriate treatment plan for improving their prognosis.

Factors associated with in-hospital and outpatient survival of patients with different types of stage IV cancer and venous thromboembolism

“…Most of these patients had advanced-stage cancer. 29 Notably, none of our patients with thrombocytopenia had hemorrhagic complications.…”

Case report: Immunotherapy-based combination therapy achieving complete remission and prolonged survival in nasopharyngeal carcinoma with extensive bone marrow metastasis

“…Bone marrow metastasis is a poor prognostic factor in all non-hematologic malignancies ( 13 ). Patients with bone marrow metastasis typically lack specific clinical manifestations and commonly exhibit symptoms such as anemia, thrombocytopenia, bone pain, and bleeding tendencies ( 14 ). Since bone marrow aspiration is not a routine test for solid tumors, most patients have already experienced diffuse tumor invasion in the bone marrow at the time of diagnosis.…”