Randomized study of BEEP induction therapy before WBRT for previously untreated brain metastases from breast cancer

As therapeutic advanced have prolonged survival for patients with breast cancer, brain metastases (BMBCs) have become an increasingly prevalent complication. A randomized clinical trial in Taiwan evaluated bevacizumab plus etoposide and cisplatin (BEEP) induction before whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for BMBCs. Patients with previously untreated BMBCs were randomized 2:1 to BEEP followed by WBRT or WBRT alone. The 8-month brain-specific progression-free survival rate was 48.7% in the BEEP-WBRT group versus 26.3% in the WBRT alone group (p=0.03). The authors conclude that induction BEEP before WBRT may improve the contol of BMBC (visual abstract)