Herceptin (Trastuzumab) for Breast Cancer Linked to CNS Metastases

[gdpawel]

Liz

Take notice Dr. Hortobagyi mentioned what has been known for a decade? Brain metastases are the most common type of brain tumors, with the total number diagnosed annually outnumbering all other intracranial tumors combined. With the increasing survival of patients with systemic (extracranial) disease, the incidence of the most common cancers (lung, breast, melanoma, renal and colon) is thought to be rising.

Autopsy data has shown that the frequency of brain metastases in patients dying from cancer varies from 20 to 50%, and may be higher if dural, leptomeningeal, or spinal metastases are taken into account. As the incidence of brain metastases rises due to improved cancer therapy for systemic disease, it is imperative that improved intracranial therapy be developed as well.

In other words, I sincerely believe the figures are much, much higher than what is being reported in medical literature.

Greg