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Novel Systemic Treatments for Brain Metastases From Lung Cancer

  • Neuro-oncology (R Soffietti, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Neurology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of review

Brain metastases are frequent complication of lung cancer and are associated with poor prognosis. Patients with brain metastases secondary to lung cancer have traditionally been managed with surgery and radiation with limited role for systemic chemotherapy. In the past decade, however, this paradigm has shifted largely due to the advent of targeted therapies and immunotherapies, both of which have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of brain metastases and extracranial disease.

Recent findings

While patients with brain metastases secondary to lung cancer have historically been excluded from trials, recent data suggest efficacy of novel targeted therapies and immunotherapies in these patients. In fact, there are multiple ongoing trials to further evaluate these therapies in this patient profile.

Summary

Targeted therapies and immunotherapies have the potential to improve outcomes in patients with brain metastases secondary to lung cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fairview Hospital-Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Bicky Thapa MD

  2. Burkhardt Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA

    Adam Lauko BS (Medical Student), Kunal Desai MD & Manmeet S. Ahluwalia MD, FACP

  3. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Vyshak Alva Venur MD

Authors
  1. Bicky Thapa MD
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  2. Adam Lauko BS (Medical Student)
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  3. Kunal Desai MD
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  4. Vyshak Alva Venur MD
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  5. Manmeet S. Ahluwalia MD, FACP
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Manmeet S. Ahluwalia MD, FACP.

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Conflict of Interest

Dr. Ahluwalia reports grants and personal fees from Elekta, grants and personal fees from Incyte, grants and personal fees from BMS, grants and personal fees from Astrazeneca, grants from Tracon, grants from Novartis, grants and personal fees from Novocure, personal fees from Monteris Medical, personal fees from Caris Life Sciences, personal fees from MRI Solutions, grants and personal fees from Abbvie, personal fees from CBT Pharmaceuticals, personal fees from Flatiron, personal fees from Varian, personal fees from VBI vaccines, and personal fees and others from MImivax, outside the submitted work.

Dr. Bicky Thapa, Dr. Kunal Desai, Mr. Adam Lauko, and Dr. Vyshak Alva Venur each declare that they have no potential conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Neuro-oncology

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Thapa, B., Lauko, A., Desai, K. et al. Novel Systemic Treatments for Brain Metastases From Lung Cancer. Curr Treat Options Neurol 20, 48 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11940-018-0533-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11940-018-0533-2

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