Genetic Characterization of Brain Metastases in the Era of Targeted Therapy.

ABSTRACT: In the current era of molecularly targeted therapies and precision medicine, choice of cancer treatment has been increasingly tailored according to the molecular or genomic characterization of the cancer the individual has. Previously, the clinical observation of inadequate control of brain metastases was widely attributed to a lack of central nervous system (CNS) penetration of the anticancer drugs. However, more recent data have suggested that there are genetic explanations for such observations. Genomic analyses of brain metastases and matching primary tumor and other extracranial metastases have revealed that brain metastases can harbor potentially actionable driver mutations that are unique to them. Identification of genomic alterations specific to brain metastases and targeted therap

SUBMITTER: Han CH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5622141 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature