[Chemotherapy in the treatment of brain metastases of breast cancers].

In the natural history of breast cancer the brain metastasis are associated with a median survival of a few months. Brain metastases are usually managed by radiation therapy and corticosteroids. The indications of surgery are limited. This report concerns four patients with brain metastases from breast carcinoma treated initially by systemic chemotherapy. The objective response to chemotherapy was similar to the results obtained in patients treated for extracranial metastases. This findings suggest that systemic chemotherapy is effective in the treatment of patients with brain metastases from breast cancer.