Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 18, 2026

Modeling Brain Metastasis by Internal Carotid Artery Injection of Cancer Cells
10:01

Modeling Brain Metastasis by Internal Carotid Artery Injection of Cancer Cells

Published on: August 2, 2022

Targeted therapy for brain metastases

Michael A Davies1

  • 1Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.

Advances in Pharmacology (San Diego, Calif.)
|September 11, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Targeted therapies offer new hope for treating brain metastases in lung, breast, and melanoma cancers. This review explores their development, current use, and future research directions for managing these challenging oncological conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Pathogenesis
  • Targeted Therapy

Background:

  • Brain metastases represent a significant challenge in cancer care.
  • Advances in understanding cancer molecular pathways have enabled targeted therapies.
  • Specific targeted therapies exist for lung (EGFR inhibitors), breast (HER2/neu inhibitors), and melanoma (BRAF inhibitors) cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the development of targeted therapies for cancers that metastasize to the brain.
  • To summarize current data on the efficacy of these therapies in managing brain metastases.
  • To identify future research opportunities and challenges in this field.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of targeted therapy development.
  • Analysis of clinical data regarding brain metastasis management.
  • Discussion of future research directions.

Main Results:

  • Targeted therapies have shown high activity in specific cancers with known oncogenic events.
  • Existing data demonstrate the role of these therapies in managing brain metastases.
  • Significant opportunities and challenges exist for future research.

Conclusions:

  • Targeted therapies are revolutionizing the management of brain metastases.
  • Further research is crucial to optimize the use of these agents and overcome challenges.
  • Personalized medicine approaches are key to improving outcomes for patients with brain metastases.

More Related Videos

Modeling Brain Metastasis Via Tail-Vein Injection of Inflammatory Breast Cancer Cells05:02

Modeling Brain Metastasis Via Tail-Vein Injection of Inflammatory Breast Cancer Cells

Published on: February 4, 2021

Intracarotid Cancer Cell Injection to Produce Mouse Models of Brain Metastasis07:43

Intracarotid Cancer Cell Injection to Produce Mouse Models of Brain Metastasis

Published on: February 8, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...