Capecitabine therapy of central nervous system metastases from breast cancer Journal Article


Authors: Ekenel, M.; Hormigo, A. M.; Peak, S.; Deangelis, L. M.; Abrey, L. E.
Article Title: Capecitabine therapy of central nervous system metastases from breast cancer
Abstract: Central nervous system (CNS) metastases from breast cancer carry a poor prognosis. Systemic chemotherapy is often ineffective due to the impermeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and inherent chemoresistance of CNS metastases. There are limited data supporting the use of capecitabine in this setting. Medical records of seven patients with brain metastases from breast cancer who received capecitabine treatment at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center from 1994-2006 were reviewed. Treatment outcomes were analyzed retrospectively in those patients. Median time from breast cancer diagnosis to the development of CNS metastasis was 48 (18-165) months. Four patients had brain metastases alone, two patients had both leptomeningeal and brain metastases and one patient had leptomeningeal metastasis alone. Five out of seven patients had failed other treatment modalities before capecitabine. Three patients showed complete response (CR) and three patients had stable disease (SD) after capecitabine. The patient with leptomeningeal disease improved clinically, but refused repeat cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) studies. Median overall and progression-free survival from initiation of capecitabine was 13 and 8 months, respectively, for all patients. Capecitabine may achieve a CR and provide long-term control in patients with both leptomeningeal and parenchymal CNS metastases from breast cancer. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007.
Keywords: adult; cancer survival; clinical article; controlled study; treatment outcome; disease-free survival; middle aged; treatment failure; retrospective studies; thalidomide; drug tolerability; doxorubicin; fluorouracil; drug dose reduction; united states; capecitabine; gemcitabine; paclitaxel; cancer adjuvant therapy; cancer radiotherapy; gadolinium; methotrexate; temozolomide; brain radiation; drug megadose; nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; multiple cycle treatment; breast cancer; antimetabolites, antineoplastic; cyclophosphamide; breast neoplasms; medical record review; retrospective study; central nervous system neoplasms; docetaxel; goserelin; meningeal neoplasms; drug response; partial mastectomy; carcinoma; brain metastasis; tamoxifen; craniotomy; letrozole; cancer control; anthracycline derivative; trastuzumab; navelbine; cerebrospinal fluid analysis; hand foot syndrome; deoxycytidine; meningeal metastasis; stereotaxic surgery; prodrugs; central nervous system metastasis; central nervous system metastases
Journal Title: Journal of Neuro-Oncology
Volume: 85
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0167-594X
Publisher: Springer  
Date Published: 2007-11-01
Start Page: 223
End Page: 227
Language: English
DOI: 10.1007/s11060-007-9409-0
PUBMED: 17611719
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 21" - "Export Date: 17 November 2011" - "CODEN: JNODD" - "Source: Scopus"
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MSK Authors
  1. Scott Jason Peak
    4 Peak
  2. Meltem Ekenel
    6 Ekenel
  3. Adilia Hormigo
    49 Hormigo
  4. Lauren E Abrey
    278 Abrey