The research progress on meningeal metastasis in solid tumors

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Neurology
• Pathology

Background:

• Meningeal metastasis (MM), specifically Leptomeningeal metastases (LM), signifies an advanced, life-threatening stage of solid tumors.
• LM presents a substantial societal and patient burden, with increasing annual incidence.
• Current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for LM face limitations, including low efficiency and suboptimal outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of recent advancements in meningeal metastasis (MM) research in solid tumors.
• To elucidate the underlying mechanisms driving MM development.
• To explore diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for MM and address current research challenges.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent research on meningeal metastasis (MM) in solid tumors.
• Analysis of studies focusing on MM mechanisms, biomarkers, and treatment strategies.
• Synthesis of findings to identify research gaps and future directions.

Main Results:

• Recent research has made progress in understanding MM mechanisms, though significant challenges remain.
• Identification of potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers is an active area of investigation.
• The lack of standardized treatment protocols highlights the need for further therapeutic development.

Conclusions:

• Early recognition and intervention are critical for improving survival in patients with LM.
• Further research is essential to overcome diagnostic limitations and develop effective, standardized treatments for MM.
• Elucidating MM mechanisms is key to advancing management strategies for this advanced cancer complication.