title: 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: AP-HP, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service de Neurologie 2, Paris, 75013, France.
authors: Mehdi
authors: M
authors: Touat
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Lombardi
authors: Patrizia
authors: P
authors: Farina
authors: Michel
authors: M
authors: Kalamarides
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Sanson
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008579:Meningioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D015735:Mifepristone