title: Neoplastic meningitis from breast cancer: feasibility and activity of long-term intrathecal liposomal Ara-C combined with dose-dense temozolomide.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with neoplastic meningitis (NM) from breast cancer have a median survival of 4-8 months with specific treatment. Here, good tolerance and long-term stabilization with combined intrathecal liposomal cytarabine (Ara-C), which is probably the most promising drug for intrathecal chemotherapy to date, near-continuous temozolomide and radiotherapy is reported in two patients with leptomeningeal and solid central nervous system (CNS) metastases from breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 42- and a 43-year-old female presented with NM and disseminated CNS metastases from human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (Her2)-positive breast cancer. After irradiation of the symptomatic sites, intrathecal liposomal Ara-C every 2-4 weeks was combined with temozolomide 100 mg/m(2) day 1-5/7. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology and neurological symptoms improved in both patients and stabilized for several months. The patients survived 10 and 17 months after diagnosis of NM, without signs of neurological toxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intensive treatment is complicated by extensive pre-treatment and the lack of active CNS-penetrating systemic drugs. The long-term results with up to 17 intrathecal injections of liposomal Ara-C show that this treatment regimen is feasible and well-tolerated. The stabilization of both patients indicates activity of this combined intrathecal and systemic regimen that is based on long-term exposure of the tumour cells to both Ara-C and temozolomide. The results need to be confirmed prospectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Medicine Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: A-L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: J-H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Buhk
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Strik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016371:Cranial Irradiation; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D008081:Liposomes; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000077204:Temozolomide
chemical_list: D008081:Liposomes; D003561:Cytarabine; D003606:Dacarbazine; D000077204:Temozolomide