Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis: A Comprehensive Review

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Neurology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM) presents complex mechanisms and varied clinical symptoms, including headache, neurological deficits, and seizures.
• Diagnosis relies on neuroimaging like MRI and CT scans, with local therapies (surgery, radiosurgery) managing tumor growth and symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize current knowledge, clinical insights, and evolving paradigms for diagnosing and managing BCBM.
• To provide a roadmap for optimizing BCBM care.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of BCBM mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment.
• Synthesis of information on local therapies, whole-brain radiotherapy, and systemic treatments.

Main Results:

• Whole-brain radiotherapy, while a mainstay, is linked to cognitive decline.
• Systemic therapies, including chemotherapy and targeted agents, are crucial for BCBM management.
• Novel agents like HER2-targeted therapies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors show improved survival for HER2-positive and triple-negative BCBM.

Conclusions:

• Optimizing BCBM diagnosis and management requires a comprehensive understanding of current knowledge and evolving treatment strategies.
• Novel systemic therapies offer improved survival outcomes for specific BCBM subtypes.