title: Systemic therapy of brain metastases: non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma.
abstract: Brain metastases (BM) occur frequently in many cancers, particularly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), breast cancer, and melanoma. The development of BM is associated with poor prognosis and has an adverse impact on survival and quality of life. Commonly used therapies for BM such as surgery or radiotherapy are associated with only modest benefits. However, recent advances in systemic therapy of many cancers have generated considerable interest in exploration of those therapies for treatment of intracranial metastases.This review discusses the epidemiology of BM from the aforementioned primary tumors and the challenges of using systemic therapies for metastatic disease located within the central nervous system. Cumulative data from several retrospective and small prospective studies suggest that molecularly targeted systemic therapies may be an effective option for the treatment of BM from NSCLC, breast cancer, and melanoma, either as monotherapy or in conjunction with other therapies. Larger prospective studies are warranted to further characterize the efficacy and safety profiles of these targeted agents for the treatment of BM.
authors.affiliation: Seattle Cancer Center Alliance, Seattle, Washington (M.C.C., C.S.B., V.K.G., S.B., L.Q.M.C.); Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington (C.S.B., V.K.G., L.Q.M.C.); Departments of Neurology and Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (M.C.C.); Division of Medical Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (C.S.B., V.K.G., S.B., L.Q.M.C) marccchamberlain@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marc C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chamberlain
authors.affiliation: Seattle Cancer Center Alliance, Seattle, Washington (M.C.C., C.S.B., V.K.G., S.B., L.Q.M.C.); Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington (C.S.B., V.K.G., L.Q.M.C.); Departments of Neurology and Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (M.C.C.); Division of Medical Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (C.S.B., V.K.G., S.B., L.Q.M.C).
authors.forename: Christina S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Baik
authors.affiliation: Seattle Cancer Center Alliance, Seattle, Washington (M.C.C., C.S.B., V.K.G., S.B., L.Q.M.C.); Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington (C.S.B., V.K.G., L.Q.M.C.); Departments of Neurology and Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (M.C.C.); Division of Medical Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (C.S.B., V.K.G., S.B., L.Q.M.C).
authors.forename: Vijayakrishna K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Gadi
authors.affiliation: Seattle Cancer Center Alliance, Seattle, Washington (M.C.C., C.S.B., V.K.G., S.B., L.Q.M.C.); Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington (C.S.B., V.K.G., L.Q.M.C.); Departments of Neurology and Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (M.C.C.); Division of Medical Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (C.S.B., V.K.G., S.B., L.Q.M.C).
authors.forename: Shailender
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.affiliation: Seattle Cancer Center Alliance, Seattle, Washington (M.C.C., C.S.B., V.K.G., S.B., L.Q.M.C.); Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington (C.S.B., V.K.G., L.Q.M.C.); Departments of Neurology and Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (M.C.C.); Division of Medical Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (C.S.B., V.K.G., S.B., L.Q.M.C).
authors.forename: Laura Q M
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Chow
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy
keywords: Brain metastases; blood-brain barrier; breast cancer; melanoma; non–small cell lung cancer