title: Intraventricular methotrexate therapy of leptomeningeal metastasis from breast carcinoma.
abstract: Treatment results of leptomeningeal metastasis are reported in 33 breast cancer patients. They were divided into three groups: group 1, 19 patients, received intraventricular methotrexate (MTX) with doses based on CSF MTX levels; group 2, 6 patients, received whole brain radiation followed by a course of MTX given by lumbar punctures; group 3, 8 patients, was not treated. Median survival in group 1 was 6 months; 25% survived 1 year or more. Median survival (1 to 2 months) in groups 2 and 3 was significantly shorter. Neurologic improvement was seen in an average time of 4 weeks in about 80% of group 1 patients. Two of group 2 patients improved at 3 weeks, and all group 3 patients deteriorated. Carcinomatosis caused death significantly less often in group 1 than in the other groups.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D008727:Methotrexate