Investigational chemotherapy and novel pharmacokinetic mechanisms for the treatment of breast cancer brain metastases

Publication date: Available online 28 March 2018 Source:Pharmacological Research Author(s): Neal Shah, Afroz S. Mohammad, Pushkar Saralkar, Samuel A. Sprowls, Schuyler D. Vickers, Devin John, Rachel M. Tallman, Brandon Lucke-Wold, Katherine E. Jarrell, Mark Pinti, Richard L. Nolan, Paul R. Lockman In women, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis and second most common cause of cancer death. More than half of breast cancer patients will develop metastases to the bone, liver, lung, or brain. Breast cancer brain metastases (BCBM) confers a poor prognosis, as current therapeutic options of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy rarely significantly extend life and are considered palliative. Within the realm of chemotherapy, the last decade has seen an explosion of novel chemotherapeutics involving targeting agents and unique dosage forms. We provide a historical overview of BCBM chemotherapy, review the mechanisms of new agents such as poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitors, cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors, phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinaseinhibitors, estrogen pathway antagonists for hormone-receptor positive BCBM; tyrosine kinase inhibitors, antibodies, and conjugates for HER2+ BCBM; repurposed cytotoxic chemotherapy for triple negative BCBM; and the utilization of these new agents and formulations in ongoing clinical trials. The mechanisms of novel dosage formulations such as nanoparticles, liposomes, pegylation, the concepts of enhanced permeation and...
Source: Pharmacological Research - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research