TABLE 2.

Univariate and Multivariate Analyses of Potential Predictors of Overall Survival in Patients With Advanced Cancer

Variable	Univariate Analysis		Multivariate Analysis
	HR	P	HR	P	Parameter Estimate	Partial Scorea	NRF Scoreb
Type of cancer		.0001
Breast	1.00	—	1.00	—	0.00	0.0 × 2 = 0	0
Prostate	1.20	.38	1.29	.2182	0.26	0.0 × 2 = 0	0
Lung	1.77	.0001	2.04	<.0001	0.71	2.5 × 2 = 5	1
Other	1.52	.0046	1.43	.0175	0.36	1.0 × 2 = 2	1
ECOG PS		<.0001
0, 1	1.00	—	1.00	—	0.00	0.0 × 2 = 0	0
2	2.00	<.0001	1.77	<.0001	0.57	2.0 × 2 = 4	1
3, 4	2.68	<.0001	2.42	<.0001	0.88	3.0 × 2 = 6	1
Location of metastasis in liver
No	1.00	—	1.00	—	0.00	0.0 × 2 = 0	0
Yes	1.63	<.0001	1.78	<.0001	0.58	2.0 × 2 = 4	1
No. of prior palliative chemotherapy courses
0–2	1.00	—	1.00	—	0.00	0.0 × 2 = 0	0
>2	1.41	.0006	1.70	<.0001	0.53	1.5 × 2 = 3	1
Age at treatment, y
≤60	1.00	—	1.00	—	0.00	0.0 × 2 = 0	0
>60	1.32	.0005	1.37	.0001	0.31	1.0 × 2 = 2	1
Prior hospitalizations in the last 3 mo
No	1.00	—	1.00	—	0.00	0.0 × 2 = 0	0
Yes	1.60	<.0001	1.38	.0002	0.32	1.0 × 2 = 2	1
Location of metastasis: bone
No	1.00	—
Yes	1.05	.55
Location of metastasis: lung
No	1.00	—
Yes	1.02	.83
Location of metastasis: CNS
No	1.00	—
Yes	1.02	.79
Location of metastasis: other
No	1.00	—
Yes	1.39	.0003c
Prior RT courses
No	1.00	—
Yes	1.08	.50
Log time from primary diagnosis to metastasis diagnosis	0.99	.0882
Log time from metastasis diagnosis to RT consult	0.98	.11

Abbreviations: CNS, central nervous system; ECOG PS, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status; HR, hazards ratio; NRF, number of risk factors; RT, radiotherapy.

^aPartial score method: a survival prediction score was created for each patient by assigning a partial score to each factor found to be significant on multivariate analysis. The partial score was derived by dividing the value of each statistically significant regression coefficient (parameter estimate) by the smallest statistically significant regression coefficient in the full model, and the results were rounded to the nearest half-integer. Each regression coefficient was then multiplied by 2 to obtain a whole number. For example, the regression coefficient for >2 courses of palliative chemotherapy was 0.53. This was divided by 0.31, the smallest statistically significant regression coefficient (age >60 y), to give 1.71. This was rounded to 1.5 and multiplied by 2 to give a partial score of 3.0.

^bNRF method: each patient’s NRF score was based on the sum of those predictors present.

^cDropped out of the model on multivariate analysis.