Purpose of review: The management of brain and leptomeningeal metastases has changed significantly over the past decade.
Recent findings: Historically, radiation therapy had been the mainstay of treatment. Several strategies to limit toxicities with radiation have been developed in the recent years. Increasingly systemic therapy options are being considered an important therapeutic option for CNS metastases. Numerous novel small molecule inhibitors and immunotherapy agents have intracranial activity to varying degrees, in addition to good extracranial disease control. Overall, the prognosis of select patients with CNS metastases has improved over the past several years with advent of new therapeutic strategies. Systemic therapy options with CNS benefit should be considered in select patients with small and asymptomatic CNS metastases. Further areas of research focus on molecular alterations predisposing to CNS metastases, identification of small molecule inhibitors with CNS activity, and the combination of radiation therapy and immunotherapy.
Keywords: Brain metastases; Breast cancer; Leptomeningeal metastases; Lung cancer; Melanoma.