2026 Advanced Therapeutics for Brain Metastasis: Moving the Needle and Controversies at the Cutting Edge

This complimentary didactic and case-based course will provide a comprehensive update on the latest advances in the treatment and research of brain metastases. Aimed at clinicians and translational scientists, this course will provide an update on CNS-specific outcomes from both molecular and traditional cancer histology viewpoints.

Recent evidence for brain metastasis activity will be highlighted for key medical targets (e.g. Her2, EGFR, KRAS, CDK, BRAF, and ALK), and leading experts will review brain metastasis prognosis across the cancers commonly resulting in this (lung, breast, and melanoma).

A dedicated session on recent developments in local therapy will review the role of laser interstitial thermal therapy, brachytherapy and external beam radiation techniques. In recognition of the many complex treatment interactions imposed by multimodality treatment often necessary, a 'Key Controversies' session will speak to major areas of clinical difficulty, for example, how to distinguish on recurrent disease from radiation necrosis on imaging studies, when to change therapy with CNS-only progressive disease, which leptomeningeal metastasis interventions are currently worthwhile, and special considerations regarding steroid use and radiation therapy for patients requiring immunotherapy.

Key scientists will discuss promising translational and clinical trial approaches including targeting metastasis-initiating cells and window-of-opportunity studies. Given the special challenge of early detection, a dedicated session will cover state-of-the art molecular imaging techniques, the evidence for/against imaging surveillance in standard-risk cancers, and the current state of liquid biopsy.

A roundtable discussion with participants from several centers will share their experiences and best practices with multidisciplinary team care and discuss areas for improvement. Finally, a multidisciplinary tumor board will review multifaceted cases, highlighting the interplay of various treatment options.

There will be ample opportunity for networking with speakers and other participants in this virtual meeting.

1. Describe the current multimodal landscape of brain metastasis treatment
2. Identify key clinical controversies in brain metastasis management
3. Discuss barriers to improved treatments and potential research strategies (e.g. limited CNS activity of systemic anti-cancer treatments, side effects of local treatments, limited survival, and unclear endpoints)

This course is complimentary for all participants. To confirm your participation, select the Registration tab above and complete the online registration form.

Access instructions, including Zoom login details, will be sent to registered participants prior to the event.

For information regarding cancellations, please review our Cancellation Policy.

"Industry professionals" are welcome to attend Continuing Medical Education events at MSK for their own educational purposes. View our Registration Policy for Industry Professionals for more information.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AMA Credit Designation Statement

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center designates this live activity for a maximum of 7.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

MOC/CC Recognition Statements

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to:

• 7.50 Medical Knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program; and

• 7.50 Lifelong Learning (CME) credits in the American Board of Pathology’s (ABPath) Continuing Certification program. 

It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM or ABPath MOC/CC credit.

MSK Course Director

Nelson Moss, MD
Co-Director, Multidisciplinary Brain Metastasis Program
Associate Attending
Department of Neurosurgery

Guest Faculty 

Nathalie Agar, PhD
Associate Professor of Neurosurgery and Radiology
Harvard Medical School
Daniel E. Ponton Distinguished Chair in Neurosurgery
Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Manmeet Singh Ahluwalia, MD
Chief Scientific Officer
Chief of Medical Oncology
Deputy Director
Fernandez Family Endowed Chair in Cancer Research
Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute

Ayal Aizer, MD, MHS
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology 
Harvard Medical School 
Senior Physician
Director, Central Nervous System Radiation Oncology
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Carey K. Anders, MD
Professor of Medicine
Chief, Division of Medical Oncology
Member, Duke Cancer Institute
Duke University

Chetan Bettegowda, MD, PhD
Director, Department of Neurosurgery
Harvey Cushing Professor of Neurosurgery
Neurosurgeon-in-Chief, The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Director, Reza Khatib Brain Tumor Center
Director, Comprehensive Brain Tumor Center
Johns Hopkins Medicine

Veronica Chiang, MD, FAANS
Neurosurgeon
Director, Gamma Knife Center
Yale New Haven Hospital

Norbert Galldiks, MD
Professor for Translational Imaging in Neuro-Oncology 
Senior Physician
Head of the Neuro-Oncological Specialty Consultation
Head of Neuro-Oncology Working Group
University of Cologne

Michelle Kim, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology
University of Michigan
Co-Chair, Neuro-Oncology Clinical Research Team
University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center

Priya U. Kumthekar, MD
Professor, Neurology/Neuro-Oncology and Medicine/Hematology and Oncology
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Julia Maués
Co-Founder and Patient Advocate
GRASP

Minesh Mehta, MD
Deputy Director and Chief of Radiation Oncology
Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health

Josh Neman-Ebrahim, PhD
Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery, Physiology & Neuroscience
Director, Cancer Biology & Genomics Doctoral Program 
Scientific Director, USC Brain Tumor Center
Co-leader, Neuro-oncology Disease Affinity Group
Director, Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination University of Southern California

Isabella C. Glitza Oliva, MD, PhD, MS
Professor, Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology 
Patient Experience Officer, Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology 
Associate Medical Director, Melanoma/Skin Center 
Director, Leptomeningeal Disease Research Program
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Matthias Preusser, MD
Professor of Internal Oncology; 
Head, Division of Oncology / Clinical Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine 
MedUni Vienna and Vienna General Hospital

Tanya Michelle Prowell, MD
Breast Cancer Scientific Liaison, Office of Hematology & Oncology Products
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Associate Professor of Oncology
Johns Hopkins Medicine 

Paolo Tarantino, MD
Research Fellow in Medicine
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Advanced Research Fellow, Breast Oncology Program
Harvard Medical School

MSK Faculty 

Joshua A. Budhu, MD, MS, MPH
Nicholls-Biondi Diversity Clinical Scientist Faculty Scholar
Assistant Attending, Brain Tumor Service
Department of Neurology  

Brandon Imber, MD, MA
Assistant Attending
Department of Radiation Oncology

Luke R.G. Pike, MD, DPhil
Director, Brain Radiation Oncology 
Assistant Attending
Department of Radiation Oncology

Gregory J. Riely, MD, PhD
Ning Zhao and Ge Li Chair in Lung 
Cancer Research 
Attending, Thoracic Oncology Service
Department of Medicine 

Andrew D. Seidman, MD
Attending, Breast Medicine Service
Department of Medicine 

Viviane Tabar, MD
Chair, Department of Neurosurgery 
Theresa Feng Chair in Neurosurgical Oncology

Jessica A. Wilcox, MD
Assistant Attending, Brain Tumor Service
Department of Neurology  

Robert J. Young, MD
Attending 
Head, Brain Imaging
Department of Radiology

Yao Yu, MD
Assistant Attending
Director of Leptomeningeal Disease
Department of Radiation Oncology

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others are required to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies (commercial interests). All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.