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Review

Medical Management of Brain Metastases and Leptomeningeal Disease in Patients with Breast Carcinoma

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Pages 391-407 | Received 03 Jun 2017, Accepted 17 Oct 2017, Published online: 18 Jan 2018
 

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women and accounts for the second highest number of cancer-related deaths. With patients surviving longer due to advances in systemic control, the incidence of CNS involvement is increasing; however, the management of CNS metastases has not undergone parallel advancements. The blood–brain barrier limits the efficacy of most systemic chemotherapies, and the utilization of surgery and radiation beyond first-line therapy is limited. We will explore the recent developments in the medical management of breast cancer brain metastasis. Beyond traditional chemotherapy, we will also discuss targeted therapies and immunotherapies which may provide a survival benefit to this population and thus, offer further treatment options and a path for future research and treatment advances.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

P Kumthekar has received consultant honoraria from Angiochem and Abbvie. This study was funded by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

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