Recent Advances in Managing Brain Metastasis

Overview

Journal F1000Res

Specialties Biomedical Engineering
Science

Date 2018 Nov 27

PMID 30473769

Citations 45

Authors

Rupesh Kotecha

Vinai Gondi

Manmeet S Ahluwalia

Priscilla K Brastianos

Minesh P Mehta

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Brain metastases are the most common malignancy encountered in the central nervous system (CNS), with up to 30-40% of cancer patients developing brain metastases at some point during the course of their disease. The management of brain metastasis is rapidly evolving and the roles of local therapies such as whole-brain radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, and resection along with systemic therapies are in flux. An emphasis on the neurocognitive side effects associated with treatment has gained prominence. Novel molecular studies have demonstrated important evolutionary patterns underpinning the development of brain metastasis and leptomeningeal disease, which may be key to unlocking new therapeutic strategies. This article provides a framework for incorporating the results of recent randomized radiotherapy clinical trials into practice, expounds upon the emphasis on cognition being an important driver in therapeutic selection, describes the importance of CNS-penetrating systemic therapies, and provides an overview of the novel molecular insights that will likely set the stage for future developments in this field.

Citing Articles

Local soft niches in mechanically heterogeneous primary tumors promote brain metastasis via mechanotransduction-mediated HDAC3 activity.

Tang K, Zheng Y, Hu G, Xin Y, Li K, Zhang C Sci Adv. 2025; 11(9):eadq2881.

PMID: 40009679 PMC: 11864190. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adq2881.

Short-term survivors with brain metastases have modest benefits from focal and systemic therapies and remain frequent despite improving treatment landscape.

Czogalla M, Stohr J, Gleim N, Papsdorf K, Klagges S, Hambsch P Clin Transl Radiat Oncol. 2025; 51:100919.

PMID: 39877301 PMC: 11772985. DOI: 10.1016/j.ctro.2025.100919.

Longitudinal MRI evaluation of the efficacy of non-enhanced lung cancer brain metastases.

Zhang X, Yang J, Hu H, Wang Y, Zhang Z, Lv J Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1):3318.

PMID: 39865155 PMC: 11770083. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-87422-9.

Spatial transcriptomics of gastric cancer brain metastasis reveals atypical vasculature strategies with supportive immune profiles.

Liu K, Wang Y, Wang C, Guo C, Zhang D, Zhong Y Gastroenterol Rep (Oxf). 2024; 12:goae067.

PMID: 39027914 PMC: 11257699. DOI: 10.1093/gastro/goae067.

Effect of different optimization parameters in single isocenter multiple brain metastases radiosurgery.

Altergot A, Ohlmann C, Nusken F, Palm J, Hecht M, Dzierma Y Strahlenther Onkol. 2024; 200(9):815-826.

PMID: 38977432 PMC: 11343813. DOI: 10.1007/s00066-024-02249-z.

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