Novel therapies for meningiomas

Abstract

Although advances in surgery, radiation therapy and stereotactic radiosurgery have significantly improved the treatment of meningiomas, there remains an important subset of patients who remain refractory to conventional therapy. Treatment with chemotherapeutic agents such as hydroxyurea and α-interferon has provided minimal benefit. In this review, the role of newly emerging novel therapies for meningiomas, with a focus on targeted molecular agents, will be discussed.

Keywords::

• meningiomas
• targeted molecular therapy

Notes

EGFR: Epidermal growth factor receptor; FGF: Fibroblast growth factor receptor; HER: Human epidermal growth factor receptor; HSP: Heat shock protein 90; mAb: Monoclonal antibody; MEK: Mitogen activated ERK kinase; mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin; PDGFR: Platelet-derived growth factor receptor; PKC: Protein kinase C; TGF: Transforming growth factor; VEGF: Vascular endothelial growth factor; VEGFR: Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor.