Brain Tumors Meningiomas are primary brain tumors that, when they recur after surgery and radiation therapy, pose significant challenges for patients.
These aggressive tumors, which can affect up to 20% of cases, currently have no approved drugs for treatment, leading to disability or even death in some cases.
Northwestern Medicine scientists have made a breakthrough discovery in collaboration with the University of California, San Francisco, and the University of Hong Kong, identifying a promising drug, abemaciclib, to inhibit the growth of these aggressive meningiomas.
Moreover, they have devised a more precise method for identifying which meningiomas will respond to this drug.
Abemaciclib: A New Hope Abemaciclib, a newer cancer treatment, has shown promise in inhibiting the growth of the most aggressive meningiomas.
This discovery was substantiated through extensive research involving patients, mouse models, 3D brain tumor organoids, and cell cultures. It offers hope for patients facing limited treatment options.
Classification Revolutionizes Meningioma Diagnosis
The study also introduces a novel classification method for meningiomas based on molecular subgroups with distinct clinical outcomes and recurrence rates.
Unlike the current grading system, which relies on visual examination under a microscope and has an accuracy rate of around 70%, this molecular classification system enhances prediction accuracy.
Dr. Stephen Magill, the study leader and corresponding author, emphasized the potential of this classification:
“Our study identifies which patients we should treat with this drug because their tumor will likely respond to it. We now have the potential to give them options and hope for a longer, symptom-free life.”
Meningiomas are the most common non-metastatic brain tumors in the central nervous system, affecting around 31,000 individuals annually in the U.S.
Typical symptoms include headaches, seizures, and neurological deficits such as weakness, vision loss, double vision, or sensory changes.
Abemaciclib: A Cell Cycle Inhibitor Abemaciclib belongs to the category of cell cycle inhibitors, which block the cell division cycle and hinder tumor growth. The long-term goal is to customize medical therapy based on the unique genetic characteristics of each patient’s meningioma.
Researchers delved into molecular changes within meningiomas to understand their growth drivers better and develop targeted therapies. By pinpointing the tumor’s genetic vulnerabilities, they aimed to halt its growth effectively.
New Classification Unlocks Insights
The study employed DNA methylation profiling and RNA sequencing on 565 meningiomas to unveil a genetic signature for different groups of tumors.
This classification, distinct from traditional grading, is more accurate in predicting the tumor’s clinical behavior.
Aggressive meningiomas exhibited multiple molecular changes related to the cell division pathway, enabling uncontrolled cell growth. Inhibiting this pathway was shown to slow tumor growth in patients, mouse models, and cell cultures.
Future Research and Broad Application
The next steps involve validating these findings in larger populations and exploring the potential combination of radiation therapy with surgery for certain meningioma patients.
Researchers aim to make molecular profiling accessible to all meningioma patients, providing hope for more effective treatments.
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The research findings can be found in Nature Genetics.
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