Scientists identify a new drug that halts recurring brain tumor growth (Abemaciclib caused meningioma tumors to decrease in size)

Medical Xpress / Northwestern University / Nature Genetics ^ | May 9, 2022 | Dr. Stephen Magill et al

[ConservativeMind]

When a non-metastatic brain tumor—a meningioma—recurs after surgery and radiation treatment, a patient is out of options. No drugs are approved for these aggressive tumors, which occur in up to 20% of cases and can lead to patient disability or even death.

But now, Northwestern Medicine scientists have identified a drug that inhibits growth of the most aggressive meningiomas and how to most accurately identify which meningiomas will respond to the drug.

The drug is a newer cancer treatment called abemaciclib.

Investigators discovered that meningiomas can be divided into molecular subgroups with different clinical outcomes and recurrence rates. This new method of classifying tumors allows scientists to predict recurrence more accurately than the current method of classifying the tumor.

"Our study identifies which patients we should treat with this drug, because their tumor will likely respond to it," said study leader and corresponding author, Dr. Stephen Magill, an assistant professor of neurological surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Northwestern Medicine physician. "We now have the potential to give them options and hope for a longer, symptom-free life."

Meningiomas are the most common primary (non-metastatic) tumor in the central nervous system, with about 31,000 people diagnosed with a meningioma every year in the U.S. The symptoms are headaches, seizures or neurological deficits (weakness, vision loss, double vision or sensory changes).

The drug is a cell cycle inhibitor, meaning it blocks the cell division cycle and inhibits tumor growth.

Mice with meningiomas treated with the medication lived longer and their tumors didn't grow as rapidly. The drug was also used off label as compassionate use in several patients whose tumors decreased in size and whose symptoms improved, suggesting the drug should be considered for clinical trials, Magill said.

[ConservativeMind]

This drug is available today for other cancers, and can be used off label for this cancer.

[ConservativeMind]

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[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

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[imardmd1]

This drug is available today for other cancers, and can be used off label for this cancer.

Generally a meningioma is benign, not cancerous. From the link to Sinai Hospital, they state:

"Meningiomas are a common type of brain tumor that develops slowly in the meninges, or the area that covers and protects the brain and spinal cord. Most meningiomas are benign and can vary greatly in size and location."

I think what is meant by 'non-metastatic' is that it does not spread and therefore benign, but you'll have to check this out.

I was operated in 2010 for this kind of benign tumor, a rather large one (4 in x 2.5 in x 1.5 in), to surgically remove it, but later another tumor in the same region was detected in 2021, a regrowth about one inch in diameter. It was treated with the CyberKnife X-radiation non-surgical procedure, which resulted in stopping its growth and shrinkage of it.

Thank you for finding this link and posting it. The idea is that the medical drug may apply in my case if another develops. I am very grateful for your diligence in identifying such successes in medical research!

[imardmd1]

I have an appointment today with the expert doctor who operates the CyberKnife X-ray machine (Sept. 2021) for dealing with a meningioma that grew since the surgical removal of one in 2010. I had an MRI last week on which this conference will discuss the results. My concern is to see if there is regrowth or occurrence of any others.