Preclinical models of meningioma: Cell culture and animal systems

Meningioma: International Consortium on Meningiomas consensus review on scientific advances and treatment paradigms for clinicians, researchers, and patients

Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumors in adults and are increasing in incidence due to the aging population and increased access to neuroimaging. While most exhibit nonmalignant behavior, a subset of meningiomas are biologically aggressive and are associated with treatment resistance, resulting in significant neurologic morbidity and even mortality. In recent years, meaningful advances in our understanding of the biology of these tumors have led to the incorporation of molecular biomarkers into their grading and prognostication. However, unlike other central nervous system (CNS) tumors, a unified molecular taxonomy for meningiomas has not yet been established and remains an overarching goal of the Consortium to Inform Molecular and Practical Approaches to CNS Tumor Taxonomy-Not Official World Health Organization (cIMPACT-NOW) working group. Additionally, clinical equipoise still remains on how specific meningioma cases and patient populations should be optimally managed. To address these existing gaps, members of the International Consortium on Meningiomas including field-leading experts, have prepared this comprehensive consensus narrative review directed toward clinicians, researchers, and patients. Included in this manuscript are detailed overviews of proposed molecular classifications, novel biomarkers, contemporary treatment strategies, trials on systemic therapies, health-related quality-of-life studies, and management strategies for unique meningioma patient populations. In each section, we discuss the current state of knowledge as well as ongoing clinical and research challenges to road map future directions for further investigation.

Investigating the Radiobiological Response to Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy Using Patient-Derived Meningioma Spheroids

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) using 177Lu-DOTA-TATE has recently been evaluated for the treatment of meningioma patients. However, current knowledge of the underlying radiation biology is limited, in part due to the lack of appropriate in vitro models. Here, we demonstrate proof-of-concept of a meningioma patient-derived 3D culture model to assess the short-term response to radiation therapies such as PRRT and external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). We established short-term cultures (1 week) for 16 meningiomas with high efficiency and yield. In general, meningioma spheroids retained characteristics of the parental tumor during the initial days of culturing. For a subset of tumors, clear changes towards a more aggressive phenotype were visible over time, indicating that the culture method induced dedifferentiation of meningioma cells. To assess PRRT efficacy, we demonstrated specific uptake of 177Lu-DOTA-TATE via somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR2), which was highly overexpressed in the majority of tumor samples. PRRT induced DNA damage which was detectable for an extended timeframe as compared to EBRT. Interestingly, levels of DNA damage in spheroids after PRRT correlated with SSTR2-expression levels of parental tumors. Our patient-derived meningioma culture model can be used to assess the short-term response to PRRT and EBRT in radiobiological studies. Further improvement of this model should pave the way towards the development of a relevant culture model for assessment of the long-term response to radiation and, potentially, individual patient responses to PRRT and EBRT.

Modeling Meningiomas: Optimizing Treatment Approach

Preclinical meningioma models offer a setting to test molecular mechanisms of tumor development and targeted treatment options but historically have been challenging to generate. Few spontaneous tumor models in rodents have been established, but cell culture and in vivo rodent models have emerged along with artificial intelligence, radiomics, and neural networks to differentiate the clinical heterogeneity of meningiomas. We reviewed 127 studies using PRISMA guideline methodology, including laboratory and animal studies, that addressed preclinical modeling. Our evaluation identified that meningioma preclinical models provide valuable molecular insight into disease progression and effective chemotherapeutic and radiation approaches for specific tumor types.

Advances in Molecular Biological and Translational Studies in World Health Organization Grades 2 and 3 Meningiomas: A Literature Review

The treatment of World Health Organization (WHO) grades 2 and 3 meningiomas remains difficult and controversial. The pathogenesis of high-grade meningiomas was expected to be elucidated to improve treatment strategies. The molecular biology of meningiomas has been clarified in recent years. High-grade meningiomas have been linked to NF2 mutations and 22q deletion. CDKN2A/B homozygous deletion and TERT promoter mutations are independent prognostic factors for WHO grade 3 meningiomas. In addition to 22q loss, 1p, 14p, and 9q loss have been linked to high-grade meningiomas. Meningiomas enriched in copy number alterations may be biologically invasive. Furthermore, several new comprehensive classifications of meningiomas have been proposed based on these molecular biological features, including DNA methylation status. The new classifications may have implications for treatment strategies for refractory aggressive meningiomas because they provide a more accurate prognosis compared to the conventional WHO classification. Although several systemic therapies, including molecular targeted therapies, may be effective in treating refractory aggressive meningiomas, these drugs are being tested. Systemic drug therapy for meningioma is expected to be developed in the future. Thus, this review aims to discuss the distinct genomic alterations observed in WHO grade 2 and 3 meningiomas, as well as their diagnostic and therapeutic implications and systemic drug therapies for high-grade meningiomas.

Chemotherapy and targeted therapies for meningiomas: what is the evidence?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Although most meningiomas are slow growing tumors mainly controlled by surgery with or without radiotherapy, aggressive meningiomas that fail these conventional treatments constitute a rare situation, a therapeutic challenge and an unmet need in neuro-oncology.

RECENT FINDING

Mutational landscape in recurrent high-grade meningiomas includes mainly NF2 mutation or 22q chromosomal deletion, whereas telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter, BAP-1 and CDK2NA mutations were also found in aggressive meningiomas. Pi3K-Akt-mTOR pathway is currently the most relevant intracellular signaling pathway target in meningiomas with preliminary clinical activity observed. Assessment of drug activity with progression free survival rate at 6 months is challenging in regard to meningioma growth rate heterogeneity, so that 3-dimensional growth rate before and during treatment could be considered in the future to selected new active drugs.

SUMMARY

Despite a low evidence level, some systemic therapies may be considered for patients with recurrent meningioma not amenable to further surgery or radiotherapy. In recurrent high-grade meningioma, everolimus-octreotide combination, bevacizumab, sunitinib and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy exhibit a signal of activity that may justify their clinical use. Despite a lack of clear signal of activity to date, immunotherapy may offer new perspectives in the treatment of these refractory tumors.

Meningioma-Brain Crosstalk: A Scoping Review

Background: In recent years, it has become evident that the tumoral microenvironment (TME) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of various cancers. In meningiomas, however, the TME is poorly understood, and it is unknown if glia cells contribute to meningioma growth and behaviour. Objective: This scoping review investigates if the literature describes and substantiates tumour-brain crosstalk in meningiomas and summarises the current evidence regarding the role of the brain parenchyma in the pathogenesis of meningiomas. Methods: We identified studies through the electronic database PubMed. Articles describing glia cells and cytokines/chemokines in meningiomas were selected and reviewed. Results: Monocytes were detected as the most abundant infiltrating immune cells in meningiomas. Only brain-invasive meningiomas elicited a monocytic response at the tumour-brain interface. The expression of cytokines/chemokines in meningiomas has been studied to some extent, and some of them form autocrine loops in the tumour cells. Paracrine interactions between tumour cells and glia cells have not been explored. Conclusion: It is unknown to what extent meningiomas elicit an immune response in the brain parenchyma. We speculate that tumour-brain crosstalk might only be relevant in cases of invasive meningiomas that disrupt the pial-glial basement membrane.