Purpose: Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) is an advanced metastatic disease presentation portending a poor prognosis with minimal treatment options. The advent and widespread use of new systemic therapies for metastatic breast cancer has improved systemic disease control and extended survival; however, as patients live longer, the rates of breast cancer LMD are increasing.
Methods: In this review, a group of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, breast surgeons, and neurosurgeons specializing in treatment of breast cancer reviewed the available published literature and compiled a comprehensive review on the current state of breast cancer LMD.
Results: We discuss the pathogenesis, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment options (including systemic, intrathecal, surgical, and radiotherapy treatment modalities), and treatment response evaluation specific to breast cancer patients. Furthermore, we discuss the controversies within this unique clinical setting and identify potential clinical opportunities to improve upon the diagnosis, treatment, and treatment response evaluation in the management of breast LMD.
Conclusions: We recognize the shortcomings in our current understanding of the disease and explore the future role of genomic/molecular disease characterization, technological innovations, and ongoing clinical trials attempting to improve the prognosis for this advanced disease state.
Keywords: Breast cancer; Intrathecal chemotherapy; Intrathecal trastuzumab; Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis; Leptomeningeal disease; Neoplastic meningitis.