Brain magnetic resonance imaging changes after sorafenib and sunitinib chemotherapy in patients with advanced renal cell and breast carcinoma.

OBJECT: The authors report novel imaging findings associated with the treatment of sorafenib (Nexavar) and sunitinib (Sutant), 2 agents used in the treatment of advanced metastatic disease.

METHODS: Patients with renal cell and breast carcinoma metastases to the brain were identified from the prospective database at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Penn State Cancer Institute.

RESULTS: Four patients who received sorafenib or sunitinib after surgical or radiosurgical treatment of their metastases were identified from the database. Clinical and/or radiographic changes consisting of seizures and cognitive or motor changes were described, associated with an increase in peritumoral edema and enhancement. These findings were observed to improve with discontinuation of the medications.

CONCLUSIONS: The administration of sorafenib and sunitinib in patients with metastatic breast and renal cell carcinoma may lead to reversible clinical and imaging changes following surgical or radiosurgical treatment of their brain lesions. The authors hypothesize that leakage of the drug across a locally impaired blood-brain barrier contributes to peritumoral edema and inflammation, which may be erroneously interpreted as disease progression.