title: Response of neoplastic meningitis from solid tumors to oral capecitabine.
abstract: Neoplastic meningitis (NM) is a major challenge for the neuro-oncologist as it constitutes a relatively common clinical problem in systemic and central nervous system cancers, and is very difficult to treat. NM portends a significant worsening in prognosis. Chemotherapeutic treatment options are limited, and not particularly effective. We report two cases of NM from breast carcinoma and a third with esophageal carcinoma, which responded to treatment with capecitabine, an oral prodrug for 5-flurouracil. We believe capecitabine warrants further investigation in patients with NM. In some patients, its use may result in clinical and radiographic tumor responses, improved quality of life, and possibly increased survival.
authors.affiliation: Neuro-Oncology Department, University of Texas--M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giglio
authors.forename: Ivo W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Tremont-Lukats
authors.forename: Morris D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Groves
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000069287:Capecitabine; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D008581:Meningitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D011355:Prodrugs; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil