Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 9, 2025
05:44
Author Spotlight: Creating a Versatile Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Model Relevant for Both Male and Female Mice
Published on: October 13, 2023
1.6K
Estrogen and Progesterone Therapy and Meningiomas
Mirella Hage1, Oana Plesa1, Isabelle Lemaire1
1Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Ambroise Paré, Service d'Endocrinologie Diabétologie et Nutrition, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, F-92100 Boulogne Billancourt, France.
Endocrinology
|December 22, 2021
Summary
Certain hormonal treatments, like cyproterone acetate (CPA), are linked to increased meningioma risk. While oral contraceptives appear safe, hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) warrants caution in meningioma patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Endocrinology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Meningiomas are common intracranial tumors, predominantly affecting females.
- The etiology of meningiomas remains incompletely understood, with a long-standing but conflicting debate regarding the role of sexual hormones.
- Recent evidence suggests a link between specific hormonal treatments and meningioma development and growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize current evidence on the association between hormonal treatments and meningiomas.
- To evaluate the risk of meningiomas associated with various hormonal therapies, including progestins, hormonal replacement therapy (HRT), and oral contraceptives (OCs).
- To discuss the implications for clinical practice regarding hormonal therapies in patients with or at risk for meningiomas.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and analysis of existing epidemiological studies and clinical data.
- Examination of the relationship between specific hormonal agents (e.g., cyproterone acetate, chlormadinone acetate, nomegestrol acetate) and meningioma incidence and characteristics.
- Assessment of evidence regarding hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) and oral contraceptive (OC) use in relation to meningiomas.
Main Results:
- A dose-dependent relationship exists between cyproterone acetate (CPA) treatment and increased incidence/growth of meningiomas, often located in the skull base and potentially multiple.
- Other progestins like chlormadinone acetate and nomegestrol acetate show a similar but lower risk.
- Evidence suggests a potential increased risk with HRT, though conflicting data exist on tumor growth; OC use does not appear to increase risk.
Conclusions:
- Hormonal treatments, particularly CPA, are associated with an increased risk of meningiomas.
- Caution is advised regarding hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) in patients with meningiomas until further data are available.
- Targeted therapies based on hormone receptors have not yet demonstrated significant clinical benefit in meningioma treatment.
