Abstract
Neoplastic meningitis (NM) is a common problem in neuro-oncology. Notwithstanding its frequent focal signs and symptoms, NM is a disease affecting the entire neuraxis, and therefore its staging and treatment must include all cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) compartments. Diagnosis of NM is conducted by magnetic resonance imaging (MR-Gd) and pathological examination using CSF. Treatments of NM include involved-field radiotherapy of bulky or symptomatic disease sites, systemic chemotherapy, or intra-CSF drug therapy. At present, intra-CSF drug therapy is confined to three chemotherapeutic agents (i. e., methotrexate, cytosine arabinoside, and thio-TEPA) administered in a variety of schedules either by intralumbar or intraventricular delivery. Although treatment of NM is palliative with an expected median patient survival of 2 to 6 months, it often affords stabilization and protection from further neurologic deterioration in patients with NM. Recently, liposomal cytarabine has been developed and introduced in several clinical trials, demonstrating promising results.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 515-517 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Japanese Journal of Cancer and Chemotherapy |
Volume | 38 |
Issue number | 4 |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2011 |
Keywords
- Intrathecal chemotherapy
- Neoplastic meningitis
- Slowrelease formulation of cytarabine
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Cancer Research