Biology in prevention and treatment of brain metastases.

Brain metastases are common in cancer patients, may significantly diminish neurocognitive function and quality of life and carry a poor prognosis. Brain metastases differ from metastases in other organs such as liver, lung, lymph nodes and bone, both from a pathobiological and from a clinical perspective. Despite the high incidence of brain metastases, only relatively few studies aiming at better understanding of their pathobiology have been performed in the past. However, recently druggable targets have been identified in brain metastases of several tumor types and novel treatment approaches are becoming a feasible option for selected patients. In addition, scientific advances are elucidating some fundamental aspects of brain metastasis formation and may lead to effective strategies of drug-mediated prevention of metastatic brain invasion or inhibition of intracerebral outgrowth.