Close follow-up after discontinuation of cyproterone acetate: a possible option to defer surgery in patients with voluminous intracranial meningioma

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between cyproterone acetate and intracranial meningiomas

The influence of exposure to hormonal treatments, particularly cyproterone acetate (CPA), has been posited to contribute to the growth of meningiomas. Given the widespread use of CPA, this systematic review and meta-analysis attempted to assess real-world evidence of the association between CPA and the occurrence of intracranial meningiomas. Systematic searches of Ovid MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Controlled Register of Controlled Trials, were performed from database inception to 18th December 2021. Four retrospective observational studies reporting 8,132,348 patients were included in the meta-analysis. There was a total of 165,988 subjects with usage of CPA. The age of patients at meningioma diagnosis was generally above 45 years in all studies. The dosage of CPA taken by the exposed group (n = 165,988) was specified in three of the four included studies. All studies that analyzed high versus low dose CPA found a significant association between high dose CPA usage and increased risk of meningioma. When high and low dose patients were grouped together, there was no statistically significant increase in risk of meningioma associated with use of CPA (RR = 3.78 [95% CI 0.31–46.39], p = 0.190). Usage of CPA is associated with increased risk of meningioma at high doses but not when low doses are also included. Routine screening and meningioma surveillance by brain MRI offered to patients prescribed with CPA is likely a reasonable clinical consideration if given at high doses for long periods of time. Our findings highlight the need for further research on this topic.

Progestin-related WHO grade II meningiomas behavior-a single-institution comparative case series

WHO grade II progestin-related meningiomas have been reported in recent series but we found no previous study describing their long-term outcome. Our study aimed to evaluate patients operated on for high-grade intracranial meningioma and who underwent long-term exposure to high dose of cyproterone acetate, nomegestrol acetate, and chlormadinone acetate. Our study retrospectively included 9 patients with high-grade progestin-related intracranial meningioma between December 2006 and September 2021. In each patient, clinico-radiological follow-up was performed every 6 months after diagnosis and treatment withdrawal recommendation. The mean progestative exposure was 11.4 years. Edema existence or absence of cleft sign on MRI were the key factors for surgical indication. All patients underwent surgery. Adjuvant radiotherapy was indicated in 1 patient, and Gamma Knife radiosurgery was proposed in 2 other patients for a second location of meningioma. Six patients harbored a grade II chordoid meningioma subtype with 100% PR expression and 3 patients a grade II atypical meningioma subtype with lower PR expression. The mean follow-up was 8.1 years and none of the 9 patients presented with a recurrence. Patients with grade II progestin-related meningiomas have less tumor recurrence after surgery than patients with sporadic grade II meningiomas, especially after progestin withdrawal. The presence/appearance of peri-meningioma edema and the absence of cleft sign before volumetric change should suggest the existence of an underlying WHO grade II meningiomas. In these cases, surgical resection may immediately be considered and adjuvant radiotherapy should be reserved for proven recurrence cases.

Meningiomas in Gynecology and Reproduction: an Updated Overview for Clinical Practice

There is various evidence to suggest a relationship between female hormones and meningiomas; as clinicians, we often come to face challenging situations involving female patients diagnosed with meningiomas during the post-pubertal phases of their life. We aimed to review the specific circumstances (pregnancy, postpartum, hormonal contraception and hormone replacement therapy, gender-affirming hormonal treatment) clinicians might come to face during their daily clinical practice, given the absence of available guidelines. We therefore conducted a narrative review on articles found in PubMed and Embase databases using appropriate keywords. Ninety-six relevant articles were included. The available evidence on managing meningiomas in post-pubertal women often implies personal strategies, highlighting the lack of a unified approach. The knowledge of the biological links between female hormones and meningiomas is fundamental to correctly counsel patients in various life phases. Prospective randomized studies are required to improve available guidelines on how to best manage meningiomas in female post-pubertal patients.

Use of high dose cyproterone acetate and risk of intracranial meningioma in women: cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the risk of meningioma associated with use of high dose cyproterone acetate, a progestogen indicated for clinical hyperandrogenism.

DESIGN

Observational cohort study.

SETTING

Data from SNDS, the French administrative healthcare database, between 2007 and 2015.

PARTICIPANTS

253 777 girls and women aged 7-70 years living in France who started cyproterone acetate between 2007 and 2014. Participants had at least one reimbursement for high dose cyproterone acetate and no history of meningioma or benign brain tumour, or long term disease status. Participants were considered to be exposed when they had received a cumulative dose of at least 3 g during the first six months (139 222 participants) and very slightly exposed (control group) when they had received a cumulative dose of less than 3 g (114 555 participants). 10 876 transgender participants (male to female) were included in an additional analysis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Surgery (resection or decompression) or radiotherapy for one or more intracranial meningiomas.

RESULTS

Overall, 69 meningiomas in the exposed group (during 289 544 person years of follow-up) and 20 meningiomas in the control group (during 439 949 person years of follow-up) were treated by surgery or radiotherapy. The incidence of meningioma in the two groups was 23.8 and 4.5 per 100 000 person years, respectively (crude relative risk 5.2, 95% confidence interval 3.2 to 8.6; adjusted hazard ratio 6.6, 95% confidence interval 4.0 to 11.1). The adjusted hazard ratio for a cumulative dose of cyproterone acetate of more than 60 g was 21.7 (10.8 to 43.5). After discontinuation of cyproterone acetate for one year, the risk of meningioma in the exposed group was 1.8-fold higher (1.0 to 3.2) than in the control group. In a complementary analysis, 463 women with meningioma were observed among 123 997 already using cyproterone acetate in 2006 (risk of 383 per 100 000 person years in the group with the highest exposure in terms of cumulative dose). Meningiomas located in the anterior skull base and middle skull base, particularly the medial third of the middle skull base, involving the spheno-orbital region, appeared to be specific to cyproterone acetate. An additional analysis of transgender participants showed a high risk of meningioma (three per 14 460 person years; 20.7 per 100 000 person years).

CONCLUSIONS

A strong dose-effect relation was observed between use of cyproterone acetate and risk of intracranial meningiomas. A noticeable reduction in risk was observed after discontinuation of treatment.

Cyproterone acetate and meningioma: a nationwide-wide population based study

BACKGROUND

The study the characteristics of surgical meningiomas in female patients who took CPA and to compare this population to a non-CPA control group.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We processed the French Système National des Données de Santé (SNDS) database to retrieve appropriate cases operated between 2007 and 2017.

RESULTS

1 101 female patients (3.8%) who used to take CPA and underwent a meningioma surgery were extracted from a nationwide population based cohort of 28 924 patients. Median age at CPA prescription was 42 years IQR[36.7-48.9]. The median time between CPA start and surgery was 5.5 years IQR[3.1-7.9]. The median age at surgery was significantly lower in patients who were treated by CPA (47 years, IQR[42-54) compared to the non-CPA population (61 years, IQR[51-70], p < 0.001). Median CPA dose was 40 g, IQR[19-72]. There was a strong correlation between CPA dose and duration (r = 0.58, _95%CI[0.54-0.62], p < 0.001). Middle skull base was the most common (39%) location with a anterior skull base insertion being also far more common compared to the usual population with 21.9% of the tumour. This skull base predominance of CPA-associated meningioma is highly significant (p < 0.001). Increased CPA dose raised the risk of having multiple meningioma surgeries (p < 0.001) and multiple meningioma locations (p < 0.001). Tumour grading was not modified by CPA treatment (p = 0.603). Benign or grade I meningioma accounting for 92%, atypical or grade II for 6.1% and malignant or grade III for 1.9%.

CONCLUSION

In the past 10 years, a significant number of CPA-induced meningiomas have been removed, modifying the global pyramid of age at surgery for female patients. These tumours occur well before the usual age and are preferentially located on the anterior and middle skull base.