SEOM-GEINO clinical guideline of systemic therapy and management of brain central nervous system metastases (2021)

Clin Transl Oncol. 2022 Apr;24(4):703-711. doi: 10.1007/s12094-022-02803-0. Epub 2022 Mar 8.

Abstract

Central nervous system (CNS) dissemination is a severe complication in cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Brain metastases (BMs) are the most common types of malignant intracranial tumors and are reported in approximately 25% of patients with metastatic cancers. The recent increase in incidence of BMs is due to several factors including better diagnostic assessments and the development of improved systemic therapies that have lower activity on the CNS. However, newer systemic therapies are being developed that can cross the blood-brain barrier giving us additional tools to treat BMs. The guidelines presented here focus on the efficacy of new targeted systemic therapies and immunotherapies on CNS BMs from breast, melanoma, and lung cancers.

Keywords: Blood–brain barrier; Brain metastasis; Guidelines; Immunotherapy; Targeted therapies.

MeSH terms

  • Brain
  • Brain Neoplasms* / secondary
  • Central Nervous System / pathology
  • Central Nervous System Neoplasms* / secondary
  • Central Nervous System Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Melanoma* / pathology
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary*