Xeloda for Brain Mets...preventative?

[Ceesun]

Is xeloda considered a preventative treatment for this type of mets? Does Xeloda on its own or with herceptin cross the blood brain barrier? I know it is used with tykerb...but does it cross on its own? Ceesun

[hutchibk]

Xeloda does cross the blood brain barrier. It is one of the chemo's that does. (I know that Carbo does too)

Don't know about Xeloda as preventative, though...

[pattyz]

No, Xeloda is not considered a 'preventative' for brain mets. There are many who develope brain mets while on X tx.

Yes, Xeloda is technically small enough to cross the bbb, but it may also be helped along by a 'leaky' bbb from the mets themselves or radiation to brain.

Gemzar also crosses the bbb and has shown to be effective in brain mets, along with Xeloda and Carboplatin.

ok?
pattyz