title: Neoplastic meningitis from breast carcinoma with complete response to liposomal cytarabine: case report.
abstract: Neoplastic meningitis from breast cancer often leads to a progressive neurologic deterioration followed by fatal outcome. The therapy is based on the administration of high dose systemic chemotherapy with drugs able to pass through the blood-brain barrier, such as methotrexate (MTX) and cytarabine, cranial or craniospinal irradiation, and intrathecal (IT) administration of MTX and/or cytarabine. However, these approaches only have modest efficacy and are associated with side effects for the patients. A depot formulation of liposomal cytarabine (DepoCyte) has proven to be useful in clinical trials. We describe the case of a woman with a diagnosis of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis from breast carcinoma who presented cerebrospinal fluid normalization and prolonged complete MRI response to intrathecal chemotherapy with liposomal cytarabine (DepoCyte).
authors.affiliation: Neuro Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy. paola.gaviani@istituto-besta.it
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gaviani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silvani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Corsini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Erbetta
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salmaggi
mesh_terms: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary*; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D008081:Liposomes; D055756:Meningeal Carcinomatosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D008081:Liposomes; D003561:Cytarabine; D008727:Methotrexate