Metastasis refers to the spread of cancer. In metastatic breast cancer, cancer cells break away from the primary breast tumor and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system. These cancer cells can then spread to almost any part of the body and form new tumors. The adrenal gland, a hormone-secreting gland near the kidneys is a common site of metastatic disease. Breast cancer metastasis to the adrenal gland can be treated with a number of therapies.
Resection
A possible treatment for metastasis to the adrenal gland is a surgical resection of the tumor. During the procedure, surgeons remove any cancer growth on the adrenal gland, and any affected lymph nodes around the gland. The surgery is generally performed laparoscopically, whereby a small incision is made and a laparoscope is inserted and guided to the surgical site to assist in the removal of the cancer growth in an around the adrenal glands. Doctors must take care to leave healthy adrenal tissue intact, as the adrenal glands play a key role in maintaining the proper hormonal balance within the body. Following surgery, patients often have a short recovery time due to the small incision, but may require hormone-based therapies after treatment to supplement hormone levels lost by the loss of adrenal tissue.
Radiation Therapy
Another possible treatment for breast cancer metastasis in the adrenal glands is radiation therapy. During treatment, cancer cells within the adrenal glands are exposed to a high dose of radiation. The radiation damages the cells' DNA and creates harmful chemicals called free radicals that damage the cancer cells. After treatment, the damage to the cells proves irreparable, and the cancer cells die. A study published in the "Japanese Journal of Clinical Ontology" in 2005 indicates that external beam radiation, a therapy in which radiation travels through the skin into the tumor, can prove effective in managing adrenal metastases.
Biologic Therapy
Biologic therapy, treatments that identify and target breast cancer cells, can also treat breast cancer growth in the adrenal gland. Biologic therapies can identify cancer cells based on the presence of specific factors found on the surface of the cancer cells, but not found on healthy cells. Following identification, the drug can target the cancer cell for degradation by the immune system. The drug travels throughout the body, recognizing cancer growth in numerous tissues, including the adrenal gland. A common biologic therapy for breast cancer growth in the adrenal gland is Herceptin, which recognizes breast cancer cells with a large amount of a protein called HER2, according to Genetech, the drug's manufacturer. By using biologic therapy, doctors can target breast cancer growth in the adrenal gland and throughout the body.
