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The biology of brain metastases-translation to new therapies.

ABSTRACT: Brain metastases are a serious obstacle in the treatment of patients with solid tumors and contribute to the morbidity and mortality of these cancers. It is speculated that the frequency of brain metastasis is increasing for several reasons, including improved systemic therapy and survival, and detection of metastases in asymptomatic patients. The lack of preclinical models that recapitulate the clinical setting and the exclusion of patients with brain metastases from most clinical trials have slowed progress. Molecular factors contributing to brain metastases are being elucidated, such as genes involved in cell adhesion, extravasation, metabolism, and cellular signaling. Furthermore, the role of the unique brain microenvironment is beginning to be explored. Although the presence and function of the blood-brain barrier in metastatic tumors is still poorly understood, it is likely that some tumor cells are protected from therapeutics by the blood-tumor barrier, creating a sanctuary site. This Review discusses what is known about the biology of brain metastases, what preclinical models are available to study the disease, and which novel therapeutic strategies are being studied in patients.

SUBMITTER: Eichler AF

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3259742 | biostudies-other | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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The biology of brain metastases-translation to new therapies.

Eichler April F AF Chung Euiheon E Kodack David P DP Loeffler Jay S JS Fukumura Dai D Jain Rakesh K RK

Nature reviews. Clinical oncology 20110412 6

Brain metastases are a serious obstacle in the treatment of patients with solid tumors and contribute to the morbidity and mortality of these cancers. It is speculated that the frequency of brain metastasis is increasing for several reasons, including improved systemic therapy and survival, and detection of metastases in asymptomatic patients. The lack of preclinical models that recapitulate the clinical setting and the exclusion of patients with brain metastases from most clinical trials have s ...[more]

PMID: 21487419

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Project description:Bone metastases are a common feature of advanced genitourinary malignancies and a prominent cause of morbidity and mortality.The objective of this review is to discuss the incidence, pathophysiology, and management of bone metastases in the most prevalent genitourinary malignancies.We reviewed the relevant medical literature, with a particular emphasis on prospective randomized controlled trials. Much of the relevant clinical trial data focus on prostate cancer (PCa). We provide a nonsystematic review and our perspective on the available data.Clinical manifestations can include pain, hypercalcemia, pathologic fractures, and spinal cord compression. Optimal systemic therapy for skeletal metastases often features a combination of disease-specific therapy and bone-targeted therapy. Some agents, such as the radiopharmaceutical radium-223, blur the line between those categories. Osteoclast inhibition is a validated strategy in the management of selected patients with bone metastases. Zoledronic acid, a bisphosphonate, is approved for the prevention of skeletal events caused by solid tumors metastatic to bone. Denosumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that inactivates receptor activator of nuclear factor-?B ligand and is approved for the same indication. Beta-emitting radiopharmaceuticals can be effective for the palliation of pain caused by bone metastases, but their use is often limited by marrow suppression. The alpha-emitting radiopharmaceutical radium-223 has recently been shown to improve overall survival and prevent skeletal events in select men with castration-resistant PCa metastatic to bone. Multiple ongoing clinical trials are designed to examine the potential for therapeutic inhibition of additional targets such as Src and hepatocyte growth factor (MET).Bone metastases cause considerable morbidity and mortality among patients with genitourinary malignancies. Optimal management requires consideration of bone-targeted therapy as well as disease-specific therapy. Further research is needed to optimize the use of existing agents and to define the therapeutic potential of novel targets.

Dataset Information

The biology of brain metastases-translation to new therapies.

Publications

The biology of brain metastases-translation to new therapies.

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