Current Challenges in the Management of Breast Cancer Brain Metastases

Approximately 50% of patients with advanced human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) ultimately develop breast cancer brain metastases (BCBM), which are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The advent of HER2-directed therapy resulted in greatly improved survival outcomes, but unfortunately at the price of an increased cumulative incidence of BCBM. We review challenges in the management of BCBM, and potential treatment strategies, including novel agents such as poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (olaparib, veliparib), cyclin dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors (palbociclib, abemaciclib) and taxane derivatives (e.g.

Source: Seminars in Oncology - July 7, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Ciara C. O ’Sullivan, Nicole N. Davarpanah, Jame Abraham, Susan E. Bates Source Type: research