Recurrent high-grade meningioma: a phase II trial with somatostatin analogue therapy

A prospective, two-stage phase II trial with octreotide in patients with recurrent high-grade meningioma was conducted. The radiographic partial response (RPR) was set as the primary study endpoint, whereas progression-free survival at 6 months (PFS6) was defined as the secondary endpoint.

Nine patients (eight men; median age 65) with histological high-grade meningioma (five with grade II and four with grade III) and progression after prior surgery and radiotherapy were included. All had positive brain octreotide SPECT scanning. Octreotide was administered intramuscularly once every 28 days at a dose of 30 mg for the first two cycles and 40 mg for subsequent cycles until progression. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed every 3 months. Progression and RPR were defined as an increase of ≥25 % and as a decrease of ≥50 % in two-dimensional maximum diameters, respectively.

Patients received a median of three octreotide cycles (range 1-8) without grade ≥2 toxicities. No RPRs were observed. Stable disease was the best response in 33.3 % (n = 3). All patients had progressive disease at 10 months of follow-up. Median time to progression was 4.23 months (range 1-9.4), and the PFS6 was 44.4 % (n = 4).

Our study failed to provide evidence to support the use of monthly long-acting somatostatin analogue schedule in recurrent high-grade meningiomas, as none of our patients demonstrated RPR. The modest median PFS of 4-5 months along with the unknown natural history of recurrent meningiomas render the use of this therapy against these aggressive brain tumors uncertain.