Rationale for the use of upfront whole brain irradiation in patients with brain metastases from breast cancer

Agnes V. Tallet, David Azria, Emilie Le Rhun, Fabrice Barlesi, Antoine F. Carpentier, Antony Gonçalves, Sophie Taillibert, Frédéric Dhermain, Jean Philippe Spano, Philippe Metellus

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    5 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Breast cancer is the second most common cause of brain metastases and deserves particular attention in relation to current prolonged survival of patients with metastatic disease. Advances in both systemic therapies and brain local treatments (surgery and stereotactic radiosurgery) have led to a reappraisal of brain metastases management. With respect to this, the literature review presented here was conducted in an attempt to collect medical evidence-based data on the use of whole-brain radiotherapy for the treatment of brain metastases from breast cancer. In addition, this study discusses here the potential differences in outcomes between patients with brain metastases from breast cancer and those with brain metastases from other primary malignancies and the potential implications within a treatment strategy.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)8138-8152
    Number of pages15
    JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences
    Volume15
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 8 May 2014

    Keywords

    • Brain metastases
    • Breast cancer
    • Controlled extra-cranial disease
    • Overall survival
    • Whole brain radiation therapy

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