Treatment of brain metastases: a short review of current therapies and the emerging role of temozolomide.
Brain metastases are a major clinical challenge and usually signify very poor prognosis for most patients. Several recent strategies such as radiosensitizers, surgical resection, and radiosurgery have resulted in small gains in selected subsets of patients. Phase II and phase III clinical trials results with oral chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide have demonstrated objective radiographic and neurological responses. We provide a brief review of current and novel therapies for brain metastases, including new data on the efficacy and safety of temozolomide, a second-generation alkylating agent.
Abrey
Lauren E
LE
Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA. abreyl@mskcc.org
Mehta
Minesh P
MP
D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016634:Radiosurgery; D011878:Radiotherapy; D000077204:Temozolomide
D003606:Dacarbazine; D000077204:Temozolomide