Katja[a]
J Neurooncol. 2004 Mar-Apr;67(1-2):221-6.
Non-resectable slow-growing meningiomas treated by hydroxyurea.
Loven D, Hardoff R, Sever ZB, Steinmetz AP, Gornish M, Rappaport ZH, Fenig E, Ram Z, Sulkes A.
Institute of Oncology, Ha´Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel.
PURPOSE:
To test the benefit of hydroxyurea in the treatment of recurrent and non-resectable slow-growing meningiomas.
METHODS:
Twelve patients with regrowing non-malignant meningiomas, were enrolled for a protocol of 2 years with continuous chemotherapy with hydroxyurea, 20 mg/kg/day. Response to treatment was evaluated both clinically and by diagnostic imaging using computed tomography (CT) and 201-Thallium single photon emission CT. One minimal response was documented by CT, accompanied by clinical stabilization. Nine patients showed progressive disease, at least by one imaging procedure, with a median time to progression of 13 months (range 4-24). Two other patients were not available for response due to early removal from the study, following abrupt manifestation of grades 3-4 hematological toxicity.
CONCLUSION;
In this series hydroxyurea has not shown effectiveness in the treatment of non-resectable slow-growing meningiomas: neither for achieving response, nor for arresting disease progression.