Further data favouring hormonal dependency of cerebral meningiomas: evidence from a patient treated with cabergoline.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the role of cabergoline, a dopamine agonist, in the progression of meningiomas.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
Teaching hospital in Barcelona, Spain (Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology Clinical Institute, Hospital Clínic).


METHODS
Women with a history of meningioma underwent surgery via right pterional craniotomy. During the follow-up, at 18 months after the operation the patient developed a progressive hyperprolactinemia with amenorrhea and galactorrhea. An MR examination revealed a recurrence of the neoplasm.


METHODS
Cabergoline treatment.


METHODS
Progression of meningioma.


RESULTS
Long-standing cabergoline treatment in this patient with meningioma relapse early after surgery and subsequent hyperprolactinemia resulted in absence of progression of the neoplasm many years after the dopamine agonist initiation.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that cabergoline, a dopamine agonist, had an antiproliferative effect on the growth of meningiomas. Thus, one can hypothesise that the proliferation of cerebral meningiomas may be under dopaminergic control and that dopamine agonists such cabergoline may have a potential role in the medical treatment of patients with meningiomas.
Castelo-Branco
Camil
C
Institut Clinic of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine-University of Barcelona, Hospital Clinic-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain. castelobranco@ub.edu
Martinez
María José
MJ
Balasch
Juan
J
D000328:Adult; D000077465:Cabergoline; D018450:Disease Progression; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects; D004873:Ergolines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008579:Meningioma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000139:chemically induced*
D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D004873:Ergolines; D000077465:Cabergoline