New strategies in the management of leptomeningeal metastases

Abstract

The management of patients with leptomeningeal metastases (LM) is multifaceted and complex. Even with an aggressive approach, therapeutic outcomes are uniformly disappointing. This is because of the relentless growth of the central nervous system (CNS) and/or the systemic cancers, or their lethal complications. Advances in the understanding of the homing of cancer cells to the CNS, and of cancer metastasis in general, and more effective anticancer drugs that are adequately delivered to the CNS and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are needed to improve outcomes for patients with LM. These advances may lead to better treatments for this disease and, ultimately, its prevention.