New prospects for management and treatment of inoperable and recurrent skull base meningiomas

Johnson, Mahlon D.
Sade, Burak
Milano, Michael T.
Lee, Joung H.
Toms, Steven A.

¹Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Division of Neuropathology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Ave. Box 626, Rochester, NY, 14623, USA
²Brain Tumor and Neuro-oncology Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
³Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Rochester, Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA

Received: 16 March 2007; Accepted: 7 June 2007

Journal of Neuro-Oncology 86(1):p 109-122, January 2008.

Skull base, including optic nerve, cavernous sinus, clival and foramen magnum tumors represent a major challenge for neurosurgeons and neuro-oncologists. Growth regulatory signaling pathways for these tumors are of increasing interest as potential targets for new chemotherapy. Those differentially activated in various grades of meningiomas are currently being identified as well. This article reviews some recent findings pathways that appear to regulate meningioma growth. Potential targets for novel therapies are also discussed.