HER2-positive breast cancer brain metastasis: A new and exciting landscape.
Brain metastases (BrM) incidence is 25% to 50% in women with advanced human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer. Radiation and surgery are currently the main local treatment approaches for central nervous system (CNS) metastases. Systemic anti-HER2 therapy following a diagnosis of BrM improves outcomes. Previous preclinical data has helped elucidate HER2 brain trophism, the blood-brain/blood-tumor barrier(s), and the brain tumor microenvironment, all of which can lead to development of novel therapeutic options.Several anti-HER2 agents are currently available and reviewed here, some of which have recently shown promising effects in BrM patients, specifically. New strategies driven by and focusing on brain metastasis-specific genomics, immunotherapy, and preventive strategies have shown promising results and are under development.The field of HER2+ breast cancer, particularly for BrM, continues to evolve as new therapeutic strategies show promising results in recent clinical trials. Increasing inclusion of patients with BrM in clinical studies, and a focus on assessing their outcomes both intracranially and extracranially, is changing the landscape for patients with HER2+ CNS metastases by demonstrating the ability of newer agents to improve outcomes.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Tumor Microenvironment
- Humans
- Female
- Breast Neoplasms
- Brain Neoplasms
- 3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Tumor Microenvironment
- Humans
- Female
- Breast Neoplasms
- Brain Neoplasms
- 3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis