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Review
. 2013 Jan;2(1):75-85.
doi: 10.2217/cns.12.33.

Current advances in understanding and managing secondary brain metastasis

Radhika Dasararaju  1 , Amitkumar Mehta
Affiliations
Review

Current advances in understanding and managing secondary brain metastasis

Radhika Dasararaju et al. CNS Oncol. 2013 Jan.

Abstract

Metastatic brain tumors are the number one cause of intracranial neoplasms in adults and are associated with higher morbidity and mortality. The frequency of metastatic brain tumors is increasing because of improved survival in cancer patients. The molecular mechanism of brain metastasis is complex and not completely known. Vasogenic edema produced by tumor-derived VEGF is responsible for clinical symptoms. Dexamethasone remains the mainstay of medical management with not completely known mechanisms of action. Surgery and radiation are the main treatment modalities for metastatic brain tumors. Systemic chemotherapy has a very limited role in treatment of these tumors. Leptomeningeal metastasis is associated with extremely poor outcome.

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Conflict of interest statement

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Role of VEGF in metastatic brain tumors.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Simplified treatment outline for metastatic brain cancer in a cancer patient [101].
WBRT: Whole-brain radiotherapy.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. Simplified treatment outline for metastatic brain cancer without a known cancer diagnosis [101].
Figure 4.
Figure 4.. Simplified treatment outline for recurrent metastatic brain cancer [101].
Figure 5.
Figure 5.. Simplified treatment outline for metastatic brain cancer [26].
†In a very selective group of patients. WBRT: Whole-brain radiotherapy.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.. Simplified management outline for leptomeningeal metastasis [101].
CSF: Cerebrospinal fluid.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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