title: Current therapeutic options for breast cancer central nervous system metastases.
abstract: Breast cancer metastases to the central nervous system (CNS) has devastating consequences for the individual. As treatment options for metastatic breast cancer expand and as quality of life and overall survival improve, researchers are targeting potential treatments for this sanctuary site. Attention is now being focused on defining the phenotype of breast cancer that has a propensity to metastasize to the CNS. Specific therapies that penetrate the blood brain barrier as well as adjuvant therapies that decrease recurrence in the CNS are currently being investigated. We will review current approaches to the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of CNS metastases in breast cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Section of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA.
authors.forename: M Brian
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Hemphill
authors.forename: Julia A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lawrence
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases