Refining therapy in patients with HER2-positive Breast cancer with Central Nervous System metastasis

Background: Brain metastasis (BM) are a major clinical problem in metastatic breast cancer (MBC), occurring in 50% of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (HER2+) breast cancer. Historically omitted from clinical trials, recent studies of novel HER2-targeted agents have focused on HER2+ BM patients, addressing stable but also progressing BM and leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LMC). Summary: This review aims to summarise the most relevant data on treating patients with HER2+ BM and LMC. Key messages: The treatment paradigm for patients with HER2+ MBC has changed. Local therapies play an important role, but accumulating evidence on the intracranial activity and clinical benefit of anti-HER2 targeting therapies might lead to a shift in the paradigm on treating BM in the next few years towards more widespread use of systemic therapy.
Source: Breast Care - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research