HER2-positive breast cancer brain metastases : multiple responses to systemic chemotherapy and trastuzumab-a case report

• Published in: Journal of neuro-oncology 2006-09, Vol.79 (3), p.289-292
• Main Authors: CHURCH, D. N, BAHL, A, JONES, A, PRICE, C. G. A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antibodies, Monoclonal - therapeutic use; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Neoplasms - drug therapy; Brain Neoplasms - secondary; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast - metabolism; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast - secondary; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Medical sciences; Multiple sclerosis and variants. Guillain barré syndrome and other inflammatory polyneuropathies. Leukoencephalitis; Neurology; Receptor, ErbB-2 - metabolism; Receptors, Estrogen - metabolism; Trastuzumab
• ISSN: 0167-594X; 1573-7373
• DOI: 10.1007/s11060-006-9139-8

Brain metastases from metastatic breast cancer typically occur in 10-15% of patients and are associated with survival of 3-6 months. Recent series have shown that women with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer receiving the drug trastuzumab develop brain metastases more frequently than this, but also that continuation of trastuzumab after diagnosis of brain metastases in such patients is associated with extended survival. Authors have speculated that this is due to improved systemic control of disease; however, a possibility is that trastuzumab may have a beneficial effect on cerebral metastases themselves. We report the case of a woman with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer who developed multiple brain metastases while on trastuzumab, in whom the addition of systemic chemotherapy to continued trastuzumab has produced multiple treatment responses associated with prolonged survival. This is the first report of its kind.