[Breast cancer and brain metastases]

The cerebral metastases are frequent in the evolution of breast cancer and convey a poor prognosis. The frequency depends on the histology of the cancer and on the expression of oestrogen and progesterone receptors as well as of HER2 antigen. The treatment is currently based on surgery and the different modalities of radiotherapy used alone or in association. Indeed, chemotherapy agents available for the treatment of breast cancer do not cross the hematoencephalic barrier and are thus ineffective. However, some encouraging results have been recently reported with the therapies targeting HER2.