Brain metastases in relapsed epithelial ovarian cancer after chemotherapy with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin.
BACKGROUND
Brain metastases in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) occur rarely and are associated with a poor prognosis. No significant risk factors have been identified and no evidence-based treatment guidelines are currently available.


METHODS
A 56-year-old EOC patient presented with seizure at the Emergency Department eleven days after completion of fourth-line chemotherapy with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD). A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed multiple metastases. The patient received radiotherapy with a total dose of 30.8 Gy and 8 cycles of paclitaxel resulting in stable disease. Based on the current literature, treatment options are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
Therapeutic options for brain metastases include radiation, systemic or intrathecal chemotherapy, surgery or a combination regime. Since the effectiveness of systemic chemotherapy remains controversial, current research focuses on developing new anticancer drugs that penetrate the blood-brain barrier in order to prevent and/or treat brain metastases.
Kasprowicz
Nikola Serena
NS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Charité, Campus Virchow-Clinic, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
Fotopoulou
Christina
C
Oskay-Ozcelik
Gülten
G
El
Khalfaoui Khalid
KK
Boehmer
Dirk
D
Sehouli
Jalid
J
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; C506643:liposomal doxorubicin; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D004317:Doxorubicin