Microfluidic Device to Diagnose Leptomeningeal Metastasis in Breast Cancer

Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) is a condition in which cancer cells seed the meninges and may go on to invade the brain parenchyma, spinal cord, cranial nerves or peripheral nerves. It is a devastating complication of breast cancer, and is often considered in the differential diagnosis when patients with breast cancer present with new neurologic symptoms. It was previously thought to be a rare occurrence, but autopsy series have shown the true overall incidence to be up to 8%. In fact, while the incidence of meningeal metastasis from other malignancies has decreased, the opposite is true of breast cancer, in which clinical evidence suggests an increasing incidence.

Inclusion criteria

• Adult (18 years or older) patients, with invasive breast cancer, of all racial and ethnic origins
• Undergoing lumbar puncture for clinical or radiographic suspicion of leptomeningeal metastasis
• Provide study-specific informed consent
• Patients with unequivocal or suspicious MRI findings.
• Of those with a definitive diagnosis of LM (i.e. positive CSF cytology), 10 evaluable patients will be accrued.

Exclusion criteria

• Prior CSF fluid which identified malignant cells after 10 evaluable patients with positive CSF are accrued.