Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026
Modeling Brain Metastasis by Internal Carotid Artery Injection of Cancer Cells
Published on: August 2, 2022
Treatment of Breast Cancer Brain Metastases
Rachel A Freedman1, Carey K Anders
1Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA, rafreedman@partners.org.
Abstract:
Approximately 10% to 15% of women with metastatic breast cancer will develop brain metastases. Treatment options for these women remain limited, particularly at the time of central nervous system (CNS) relapse following completion of initial CNS-directed therapy. Historically, prior studies have broadly examined systemic treatments for breast cancer brain metastases with mixed, but overall disappointing, results. More recently, studies have increasingly selected patients based on breast cancer subtype and have examined novel, targeted agents that have preclinical suggestion of blood-brain barrier penetration. Correlative science objectives, with both tissue-based and novel imaging endpoints, are more frequently incorporated into trials of this nature, with the goal of enhancing our understanding of possible predictors of response. This review summarizes the current and emerging data on systemic therapy for breast cancer brain metastases and provides a framework for future directions in treating this clinically-challenging entity.
Insights
Systemic therapies for metastatic breast cancer brain metastases show limited success, especially after initial treatment. Emerging targeted agents and subtype selection offer new hope for improving outcomes in central nervous system relapse.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Neuro-oncology
- Translational Medicine
Background:
- Brain metastases develop in 10-15% of women with metastatic breast cancer.
- Limited treatment options exist for central nervous system (CNS) relapse after initial therapy.
- Historical systemic treatments for breast cancer brain metastases yielded disappointing results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current and emerging systemic therapies for breast cancer brain metastases.
- To provide a framework for future research directions.
- To address the clinical challenge of CNS relapse in metastatic breast cancer.
Main Methods:
- Review of current and emerging data on systemic therapy for breast cancer brain metastases.
- Analysis of studies incorporating patient selection by breast cancer subtype.
- Examination of novel targeted agents with preclinical blood-brain barrier penetration data.
Main Results:
- Historically, systemic treatments for breast cancer brain metastases have shown mixed and generally disappointing results.
- Recent studies focus on subtype-specific treatments and novel agents with potential for CNS penetration.
- Correlative science, including tissue and imaging endpoints, is increasingly used to identify response predictors.
Conclusions:
- Systemic therapy for breast cancer brain metastases remains a significant clinical challenge.
- Emerging strategies involve targeted agents and patient stratification by subtype.
- Future research should focus on understanding predictors of response and optimizing treatment for CNS relapse.
Related Concept Videos
02:56Treatment Resistant Cancers
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...