title: Systemic combination chemotherapy as primary treatment of brain metastasis from lung cancer.
abstract: Five patients with primary lung cancer metastatic to the brain were treated with systemic combination therapy alone. One patient had had unsuccessful radiation therapy, while the other four received chemotherapy as the primary modality of treatment. Response was observed in all five patients. The concept of the blood-brain barrier and the role of systemic chemotherapy in metastatic cancer to the brain are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen