Non-Resectable Slow-Growing Meningiomas Treated by Hydroxyurea

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.