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As new targeted agents have improved outcomes in HER2-positive breast cancer, studies have suggested that survivors might have a longer time to be at risk for developing brain metastases. Radiation therapy is the mainstay for treatment of breast-cancer brain metastases, but it causes adverse effects, and whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) impairs cognitive function. Alternatively, systemic therapy seems to have relatively little penetration into the central nervous system (CNS), and evidence of it producing a CNS antitumor effect is lacking. However, recent studies have shown that the oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor lapatinib — administered as monotherapy or in combination with capecitabine — might be an effective treatment. To determine whethe…