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International Journal of Molecular... Jul 2023Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) is a devastating complication of cancer with a particularly poor prognosis. Among solid tumours, malignant melanoma (MM) has one of the... (Review)
Review
Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) is a devastating complication of cancer with a particularly poor prognosis. Among solid tumours, malignant melanoma (MM) has one of the highest rates of metastasis to the leptomeninges, with approximately 10-15% of patients with advanced disease developing LMD. Tumour cells that metastasise to the brain have unique properties that allow them to cross the blood-brain barrier, evade the immune system, and survive in the brain microenvironment. Metastatic colonisation is achieved through dynamic communication between metastatic cells and the tumour microenvironment, resulting in a tumour-permissive milieu. Despite advances in treatment options, the incidence of LMD appears to be increasing and current treatment modalities have a limited impact on survival. This review provides an overview of the biology of LMD, diagnosis and current treatment approaches for MM patients with LMD, and an overview of ongoing clinical trials. Despite the still limited efficacy of current therapies, there is hope that emerging treatments will improve the outcomes for patients with LMD.
Topics: Humans; Meningeal Carcinomatosis; Melanoma; Brain; Skin Neoplasms; Meningeal Neoplasms; Tumor Microenvironment; Melanoma, Cutaneous Malignant
PubMed: 37511202
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411443 -
Radiologia 2023Meningiomas are tumors that originate in the arachnoid villi and are the most common non-glial neoplasm in the central nervous system. The clinical manifestations...
Meningiomas are tumors that originate in the arachnoid villi and are the most common non-glial neoplasm in the central nervous system. The clinical manifestations associated with meningioma depend, fundamentally, on its location. The location in the cerebral convexity is the most frequent, especially in the frontal lobes, manifesting with headache, motor disturbances, seizures and even neurocognitive disorders. There are 15 histologic subtypes of meningioma and three histologic grades. Within these, grades two and three have a worse prognosis and a higher rate of recurrence, as well as a radiological behavior that is generally more aggressive. Although there are some imaging features that can suggest a specific subtype, the definitive diagnosis will always require histological/molecular confirmation.
Topics: Humans; Meningioma; Diagnostic Imaging; Radiography; Prognosis; Meningeal Neoplasms
PubMed: 37758336
DOI: 10.1016/j.rxeng.2023.09.002 -
Neurology India 2023
Topics: Humans; Meningioma; Meningeal Neoplasms
PubMed: 37929505
DOI: 10.4103/0028-3886.388046 -
World Neurosurgery Jul 2023Nonmalignant meningioma (NM) is the most common brain tumor in the United States (U.S.), accounting for 54% of nonmalignant brain tumors. This study aims to investigate...
OBJECTIVES
Nonmalignant meningioma (NM) is the most common brain tumor in the United States (U.S.), accounting for 54% of nonmalignant brain tumors. This study aims to investigate the causes of death in NM patients and their possible associations with demographic factors.
METHODS
Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, we analyzed 116,430 NM patients diagnosed between the years 2004 and 2018.
RESULTS
A total of 31,640 deaths were observed. Non-tumor diseases accounted for 63.9% of all deaths. Out of these non-tumor deaths, we found that the most common causes were heart disease (18.7% of deaths), cerebrovascular disease (7.4% of deaths), and Alzheimer disease (4.5% of deaths). On the other hand, cancer was responsible for 27.4% of deaths, while in situ and benign tumor deaths accounted for only 8.7%.
CONCLUSIONS
This is the first U.S. population-based study to investigate the causes of death in NM patients. We found that non-tumor diseases accounted for the majority of deaths. The risks of mortality caused by heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer disease were significantly elevated. These data can help improve survival outcomes for NM patients, particularly if adjusted by demographic risk factors.
Topics: Humans; United States; Meningioma; Cause of Death; Alzheimer Disease; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Meningeal Neoplasms; Heart Diseases
PubMed: 36924888
DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.03.047 -
Romanian Journal of Morphology and... 2023Atypical meningiomas (AMs), World Health Organization (WHO) grade 2, are a group of tumors with uneven and unpredictable clinical behavior. Our aim was to analyze...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Atypical meningiomas (AMs), World Health Organization (WHO) grade 2, are a group of tumors with uneven and unpredictable clinical behavior. Our aim was to analyze possible tumor recurrence predictors, and to identify factors that improve progression-free survival (PFS).
PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS
Our retrospective study included 81 patients followed up in the Prof. Dr. Nicolae Oblu Emergency Clinical Hospital, Iaşi, Romania, between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2020. The histopathological specimens were reviewed according to the WHO 2021 criteria. Analyses included clinical, imaging, pathological and surgical factors.
RESULTS
The tumor recurred in 53.1% of the 81 cases within 60 months of surgery. Tumor location (p<0.000), tumor volume (p<0.010), extent of surgical resection (p<0.000) and dural sinus invasion (p<0.001) were predictive factors of recurrence. Gross total resection (Simpson grade I and II) was achieved in 59.2% of patients. Patients with the tumors located in the brain convexity and volume <26.4 cm³ had better survival rates up to recurrence. PFS showed a significant relationship between Simpson grade I-III and biopsy (p<0.000) and was statistically influenced by tumor volume and location, and dural sinus invasion.
CONCLUSIONS
AMs are a heterogeneous group of tumors, and we identified posterior fossa location, volume ≥26.4 cm³, Simpson grade III and IV resection and dural sinus invasion as predictive factors for relapse and a shorter PFS. Whereas certain characteristics provide some prognostic value, future molecular characterizations of AMs are necessary, which will support the clinical decision-making process.
Topics: Humans; Meningioma; Meningeal Neoplasms; Retrospective Studies; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; World Health Organization; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 37867351
DOI: 10.47162/RJME.64.3.05 -
Cancer Medicine Aug 2023Meningiomas are the most prevalent tumors of the central nervous system. Their standard treatment is surgery, which can be curative. Adjuvant radiotherapy treatment is... (Review)
Review
Meningiomas are the most prevalent tumors of the central nervous system. Their standard treatment is surgery, which can be curative. Adjuvant radiotherapy treatment is reserved for newly diagnosed cases of grade II and grade III meningiomas in cases of recurrent disease or when surgery is not radical or feasible. However, around 20% of these patients cannot undergo further surgical and/or radiotherapy treatment. Systemic oncological therapy can find its place in this setting. Several tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been tested (gefitinib, erlotinib, sunitinib) with unsatisfactory or negative results. Bevacizumab has shown encouraging results in these settings of patients. Immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors has reported interesting results with modest objective response rates. Several ongoing studies are assessing different target therapies and multimodal therapies; the results are to be disclosed. Not only a better understanding of the molecular characteristics in meningiomas has allowed the gathering of more information regarding pathogenesis and prognosis, but in addition, the availability of new target therapy, immunotherapy, and biological drugs has widened the scope of potentially effective treatments in this patient population. The aim of this review was to explore the radiotherapy and systemic treatments of meningioma with an analysis of ongoing trials and future therapeutic perspectives.
Topics: Humans; Meningioma; Meningeal Neoplasms; Treatment Outcome; Combined Modality Therapy; Prognosis
PubMed: 37366279
DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6254 -
Nature Genetics Jun 2024Intratumor heterogeneity underlies cancer evolution and treatment resistance, but targetable mechanisms driving intratumor heterogeneity are poorly understood....
Intratumor heterogeneity underlies cancer evolution and treatment resistance, but targetable mechanisms driving intratumor heterogeneity are poorly understood. Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumors and are resistant to all medical therapies, and high-grade meningiomas have significant intratumor heterogeneity. Here we use spatial approaches to identify genomic, biochemical and cellular mechanisms linking intratumor heterogeneity to the molecular, temporal and spatial evolution of high-grade meningiomas. We show that divergent intratumor gene and protein expression programs distinguish high-grade meningiomas that are otherwise grouped together by current classification systems. Analyses of matched pairs of primary and recurrent meningiomas reveal spatial expansion of subclonal copy number variants associated with treatment resistance. Multiplexed sequential immunofluorescence and deconvolution of meningioma spatial transcriptomes using cell types from single-cell RNA sequencing show decreased immune infiltration, decreased MAPK signaling, increased PI3K-AKT signaling and increased cell proliferation, which are associated with meningioma recurrence. To translate these findings to preclinical models, we use CRISPR interference and lineage tracing approaches to identify combination therapies that target intratumor heterogeneity in meningioma cell co-cultures.
Topics: Meningioma; Humans; Meningeal Neoplasms; Genetic Heterogeneity; DNA Copy Number Variations; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genomics; Single-Cell Analysis; Cell Proliferation; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Signal Transduction; Cell Line, Tumor; Transcriptome
PubMed: 38760638
DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01747-1 -
Critical Reviews in Oncology/hematology Nov 2023Aim of the present analysis was to report results of a systematic review of the literature in the setting of patients treated with hypoF PT for benign lesions of the... (Review)
Review
AIMS
Aim of the present analysis was to report results of a systematic review of the literature in the setting of patients treated with hypoF PT for benign lesions of the central nervous system (CNS).
METHODS
The methodology complied with the PRISMA recommendations. PubMed, EMBASE and Scopus databases were interrogated in September 2022.
RESULTS
Twelve papers have been selected including patients treated for base of the skull meningiomas (6 papers), vestibular schwannoma (3 papers) and pituitary adenomas (3 papers). Clinical outcomes were evaluated with both radiologic images and clinical parameters. Long-term toxicity was reported in all but one series with an incidence ranging from 2 % to 7 % in patients treated for base of skull meningioma and 1-9 % for schwannoma.
CONCLUSIONS
HypoF PT is a safe and effective treatment in selected benign tumors of the CNS. Further dosimetric and clinical comparisons are required to better refine the patients' selection criteria.
Topics: Humans; Proton Therapy; Meningioma; Central Nervous System; Treatment Outcome; Meningeal Neoplasms
PubMed: 37683814
DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2023.104114 -
BMC Cancer Apr 2024Meningiomas are among the most common primary tumors of the central nervous system. Previous research into the meningioma histological appearance, genetic markers,...
Meningiomas are among the most common primary tumors of the central nervous system. Previous research into the meningioma histological appearance, genetic markers, transcriptome and epigenetic landscape has revealed that benign meningiomas significantly differ in their glucose metabolism compared to aggressive lesions. However, a correlation between the systemic glucose metabolism and the metabolism of the tumor hasn't yet been found. We hypothesized that chronic levels of glycaemia (approximated with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c)) are different in patients with aggressive and benign meningiomas. The study encompassed 71 patients with de novo intracranial meningiomas, operated on in three European hospitals, two in Croatia and one in Spain. Our results show that patients with WHO grade 2 meningiomas had significantly higher HbA1c values compared to patients with grade 1 lesions (P = 0.0290). We also found a significant number of patients (19/71; 26.7%) being hyperglycemic, harboring all the risks that such a condition entails. Finally, we found a significant correlation between our patients' age and their preoperative HbA1c levels (P = 0.0008, ρ(rho) = 0.388), suggesting that older meningioma patients are at a higher risk of having their glycaemia severely dysregulated. These findings are especially important considering the current routine and wide-spread use of corticosteroids as anti-edematous treatment. Further research in this area could lead to better understanding of meningiomas and have immediate clinical impact.
Topics: Humans; Meningioma; Glycated Hemoglobin; Meningeal Neoplasms; Hyperglycemia; Glucose
PubMed: 38632533
DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12243-4 -
Seminars in Neurology Feb 2024Meningiomas are the most frequent nonmalignant tumors of the central nervous system (CNS). Despite their benign nature and slow-growing pattern, if not diagnosed early,... (Review)
Review
Meningiomas are the most frequent nonmalignant tumors of the central nervous system (CNS). Despite their benign nature and slow-growing pattern, if not diagnosed early, these tumors may reach relatively large sizes causing significant morbidity and mortality. Some variants are located in hard-to-access locations, compressing critical neurovascular structures, and making the surgical management even more challenging. Although most meningiomas have a good long-term prognosis after treatment, there are still controversies over their management in a subset of cases. While surgery is the first-line treatment, the use of fractionated radiotherapy or stereotactic radiosurgery is indicated for residual or recurrent tumors, small lesions, and tumors in challenging locations. Advances in molecular genetics and ongoing clinical trial results have recently helped both to refine the diagnosis and provide hope for effective biomolecular target-based medications for treatment. This article reviews the natural history and current therapeutic options for CNS meningiomas.
Topics: Humans; Meningioma; Meningeal Neoplasms; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Radiosurgery; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38052237
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1777352