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The future of targeted therapies for brain metastases

Anna S Berghoff1,2, Matthias Preusser1,2

  • 1Department for Medicine I, Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Nervous System Unit (CCC-CNS), Clinical Division of Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Future Oncology (London, England)
|August 12, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Targeted therapies show promise for brain metastases (BM) in advanced cancer. This review explores existing and emerging treatments, focusing on challenges in clinical trials for BM patients.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Neurology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Brain metastases (BM) pose a significant challenge in advanced cancer care.
  • Current treatment options for BM are limited, primarily relying on local therapies.
  • Systemic therapies, particularly targeted therapies, are under-investigated in BM due to trial exclusions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing and emerging targeted therapies for common primary tumor types of BM.
  • To discuss the challenges and considerations for conducting clinical trials on targeted therapies in BM patients.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of targeted therapies for brain metastases.
  • Analysis of challenges in clinical trial design for BM patients.

Main Results:

  • Several targeted therapies demonstrate promising activity in patients with BM.
  • Key challenges include patient selection, combination with radiotherapy, overcoming the blood-brain barrier, and defining study endpoints.

Conclusions:

  • Targeted therapies represent a growing area of interest for managing brain metastases.
  • Addressing clinical trial challenges is crucial for advancing systemic treatment options for BM.
Keywords:
ALK translocationEGFR mutationanti-HER2 therapybrain metastasestargeted therapies

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