Successful treatment of multiple intracranial meningiomas with the antiprogesterone receptor agent mifepristone (RU486).

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Meningiomas are the most frequent primary brain tumor in adults. Evidence suggests that female sex hormones play a role in the meningioma tumorigenesis. In particular, progesterone, has a receptor (PR) that is highly expressed in the majority of grade I meningiomas. Multiple meningiomas (diffuse meningiomatosis) are less frequent, but have a higher female predominance and a higher PR expression. They are, therefore, attractive candidates for anti-PR therapy.

METHODS:

We treated three consecutive women with multiple meningiomas with mifepristone (RU 486). It is a synthetic steroid with high affinity for both progesterone and glucocorticoid receptors.

RESULTS:

The treatment was well tolerated, and we observed an important and long-lasting clinical (3/3) and radiological response (2/3) or stabilisation. All the three patients are now stable after five to nine years of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS:

These encouraging results strongly support a prospective clinical trial in this preselected population.

• Authors: Mehdi Touat, Giuseppe Lombardi, Patrizia Farina, Michel Kalamarides, Marc Sanson
• Journal: Acta neurochirurgica (Acta Neurochir (Wien)) Vol. 156 Issue 10 Pg. 1831-5 (Oct 2014) ISSN: 0942-0940 [Electronic] Austria
• PMID: 25078073 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Hormone Antagonists
• Receptors, Progesterone
• Mifepristone

Topics

• Female
• Hormone Antagonists (administration & dosage, adverse effects, pharmacology)
• Humans
• Meningeal Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology, physiopathology)
• Meningioma (drug therapy, pathology, physiopathology)
• Middle Aged
• Mifepristone (administration & dosage, adverse effects, pharmacology)
• Receptors, Progesterone (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Treatment Outcome