Atypical evolution of meningiomatosis after discontinuation of cyproterone acetate: clinical cases and histomolecular characterization

Purpose The long-term use of cyproterone acetate (CPA) is associated with an increased risk of developing intracranial meningiomas. CPA discontinuation most often induces a stabilization or regression of the tumor. The underlying biological mechanisms as well as the reasons why some meningiomas still grow after CPA discontinuation remain unknown. We reported a series of patients presenting CPA-induced meningiomatosis with opposed tumor evolutions following CPA discontinuation, highlighting the underlying histological and genetic features. Methods Patients presenting several meningiomas with opposite tumor evolution (coexistence of growing and shrinking tumors) following CPA discontinuation were identified. Clinical and radiological data were reviewed. A retrospective volumetric analysis of the meningiomas was performed. All the growing meningiomas were operated. Each operated tumor was characterized by histological and genetic analyses. Results Four women with multiple meningiomas and opposite tumor volume evolutions after CPA discontinuation were identified. Histopathological analysis characterized the convexity and tentorial tumors which continued to grow after CPA discontinuation as fibroblastic meningiomas. The decreasing skull base tumor was characterized as a fibroblastic meningioma with increased fibrosis and a widespread collagen formation. The two growing skull base meningiomas were identified as meningothelial and transitional meningiomas. The molecular characterization found two NF2 mutations among the growing meningiomas and a PIK3CA mutation in the skull base tumor which decreased. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first report describing an atypical tumor evolution of CPA-associated meningiomas after CPA discontinuation. The underlying biological mechanisms explaining this observation and especially the close relationship between mutational landscapes and embryologic origins of the meninges in CPA-related meningiomas as well as their clonal origin require further research.