A case of HER2-positive breast cancer receiving lapatinib+capecitabine chemotherapy with ventriculoperitoneal shunting for hydrocephalus associated with brain metastases

In patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, cerebral metastasis sometimes occurs even if the breast tumor and liver/lung metastasis are controlled with trastuzumab. We encountered a case of HER2-positive breast cancer with cerebral metastasis presenting with hydrocephalus, in which VP shunting was successful, enabling continued treatment with lapatinib+capecitabine and improvement of the patient's QOL. VP shunting relieved the symptoms of the brain metastasis, including headache and vomiting, which was damaging for the patient. In addition, the efficacy of lapatinib for the treatment of cerebral metastasis in HER2-positive breast cancer has been reported. In our case of HER2-positive breast cancer with brain metastasis that presented with hydrocephalus, VP shunting relieved the symptoms and improved the QOL of the patient, enabling treatment with lapatinib+capecitabine to be continued.