Adjuvant combined modality therapy for malignant meningiomas

Abstract

Malignant meningiomas constitute 10% to 15% of all meningiomas and limited information exists regarding adjuvant treatment of these aggressive primary brain tumors. Fourteen patients (eight men, six women), ranging in age from 28 to 61 years (median 51 years), were prospectively treated for primary malignant meningiomas according to an institutional protocol. All patients underwent surgery (gross-total in four and subtotal resection in 10 patients) followed in 2 to 4 weeks by involved-field radiotherapy (range 59-60 Gy, median dose 60 Gy). Two to 4 weeks after radiotherapy all patients were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy that included cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, and vincristine (CAV). Patients who underwent gross-total resection received three cycles, whereas those with subtotal resection received six cycles of CAV. Four patients required CAV dose reduction due to myelosuppression, and in three patients, myelosuppression prevented administration of the planned course of CAV. Four patients required transfusions (four received red blood cells, three received platelets), and two developed neutropenic fever without bacteriological documentation. Neuroradiographic response included three partial responses and 11 with stable disease. The median time to tumor progression was 4.6 years (range 2.2-7.1 years) and median survival was 5.3 years (range 2.6-7.6 years). The author concludes that combined modality therapy for the treatment of malignant meningiomas is associated with acceptable toxicity and a modest improvement in survival when compared to patients treated with surgery alone.