Lapatinib activity in a patient with encephalic metastases from trastuzumab-resistant Her-2 positive breast cancer

Daniele Galanti¹, Giovanni Vaccaro², Calogero Cipolla³, Giuseppa Graceffa³, Maria Rosaria Valerio²

¹U.O.C. Medical Oncology, Buccheri La Ferla Hospital, Palermo, Italy- ²U.O.C. Medical Oncology, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy - ³U.O.C. Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy 

A 42-year-old woman with right breast cancer cT4dN2M0 HR +, HER2 +, undergoes mastectomy with axillary lymphadenectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. During adjuvant treatment with trastuzumab and hormone therapy, the patient develops multiple symptomatic encephalic metastases.  She undergoes panencephalic radiotherapy and begins chemotherapy with capecitabine and lapatinib. After three months of well tolerated therapy, an important volumetric response of encephalic metastases is observed, with regression of neurological symptoms.