Response of leptomeningeal metastases from breast cancer to hormonal therapy

Abstract

Intraventricular chemotherapy with radiotherapy is the standard treatment of leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) from breast cancer; this treatment increases median survival only to about 3 months and is frequently complicated by serious side effects. The authors describe two patients with LM from breast cancer who were treated with hormonal therapy, which provided a neurologic response of at least 12 months and a survival of 14+ and 19 months. Hormonal therapy can be effective and nontoxic for patients with LM from breast cancer.