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Review
. 2021 Jun 11;13(12):2927.
doi: 10.3390/cancers13122927.

Brain Metastases in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Current and Novel Treatment Strategies

Alejandro Garcia-Alvarez  1 , Andri Papakonstantinou  2   3   4 , Mafalda Oliveira  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Brain Metastases in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Current and Novel Treatment Strategies

Alejandro Garcia-Alvarez et al. Cancers (Basel). .

Abstract

Development of brain metastases can occur in up to 30-50% of patients with breast cancer, representing a significant impact on an individual patient in terms of survival and quality of life. Patients with HER2-positive breast cancer have an increased risk of developing brain metastases; however, screening for brain metastases is not currently recommended due to the lack of robust evidence to support survival benefit. In recent years, several novel anti-HER2 agents have led to significant improvements in the outcomes of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Despite these advances, brain and leptomeningeal metastases from HER2-positive breast cancer remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, and their optimal management remains an unmet need. This review presents an update on the current and novel treatment strategies for patients with brain metastases from HER2-positive breast cancer and discusses the open questions in the field.

Keywords: CNS; HER2; brain metastasis; breast cancer; lapatinib; metastatic; neratinib; pertuzumab; trastuzumab; tucatinib.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors A.P. and A.G.-A declare no conflict of interest. M.O. reports grant/research support (to the Institution) from AstraZeneca, Genentech, Roche, Novartis, Immunomedics, Seattle Genetics, GSK, Boehringer-Ingelheim, PUMA Biotechnology and Zenith Epigenetics; a consultant role for Roche/Genentech, GSK, PUMA Biotechnology, AstraZeneca; honoraria from Roche, Seattle Genetics, Novartis; and travel grants from Roche, Pierre-Fabre, Novartis, Eisai.

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