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Klaas et al. J Cancer Metastasis Treat 2023;9:23 Journal of Cancer
DOI: 10.20517/2394-4722.2022.125
Metastasis and Treatment

Review Open Access

Advanced breast cancer metastasized in the brain:
treatment standards and innovations

Elizabeth Klaas, Eric Sung, Esaan Azizi, Melanie Martinez, Arnav Barpujari, Jeffery Roberts, Brandon
Lucke-Wold
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
Correspondence to: Dr. Brandon Lucke-Wold, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, 1505 SW Archer Rd.
Gainesville, FL 32608, USA. E-mail: Brandon.Lucke-Wold@neurosurgery.ufl.edu

How to cite this article: Klaas E, Sung E, Azizi E, Martinez M, Barpujari A, Roberts J, Lucke-Wold B. Advanced breast cancer
metastasized in the brain: treatment standards and innovations. J Cancer Metastasis Treat 2023;9:23.
https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-4722.2022.125
Received: 4 Nov 2022 First Decision: 2 Feb 2023 Revised: 20 Apr 2023 Accepted: 5 Jun 2023 Published: 14 Jun 2023

Academic Editors: Zohreh Amoozgar; Christos A. Papadimitriou Copy Editor: Fangling Lan Production Editor: Fangling Lan

Abstract
Breast cancer continues to be a difficult disease to treat due to high rates of metastasis. Metastasis to the brain
presents a unique and often overlooked challenge. In this focused review, we discuss the epidemiology of breast
cancer and which types frequently metastasize to the brain. Novel treatment approaches are highlighted with
supporting scientific evidence. The role of the blood-brain barrier and how it may become altered with metastasis
is addressed. We then highlight new innovations for Her2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer. Finally, recent
directions for luminal breast cancer are discussed. This review serves to enhance understanding of
pathophysiology, spark continued innovation, and provide a user-friendly resource through tables and easy-to-
process figures.
Keywords: Breast cancer, innovation, blood-brain barrier, luminal metastasis, new directions

INTRODUCTION
Over the last 25 years, the incidence and mortality of breast cancer has been tremendously increased
[1]
worldwide . Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in females, with approximately 2.3 million cases
and over 680,000 deaths recorded in 185 countries, and is the second leading cause of cancer-related death

© The Author(s) 2023. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, sharing,
adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as
long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and
indicate if changes were made.

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