1st 2008 article from Prof. Sébastien Froelich
Does cyproterone acetate (Androcur) promote multiple meningiomas?
Multiple meningiomas are rare benign tumors (1.5 % of all meningiomas). They are either sporadic or associated with neurofibromatosis. Their long -term morbidity is high due to the frequency of surgical interventions necessary to compensate for the lack of effective adjuvant treatment. We present a cohort of patients in whom we strongly suspect cyproterone acetate of being responsible for the development and progression of multiple meningiomas.
Patients and methods : We point out 9 patients (33-62 years old, average: 46 years) with multiple meningiomas (2 to 11) without any clinical evidence of neurofibromatosis. All patients were treated with cyproterone acetate (50 mg/day) (Androcur) for various indications for a period from 10 to 20 years.
Results : Rapid appearance of clinical symptoms was observed in 6 patients with a rapid decrease in visual acuity in 5 patients, suggesting rapid progressive meningiomas. The lesions were preferentially located at the base of the skull. Cyproterone acetate was arrested at the time of diagnosis in 2 patients. Six patients were radiologically followed for a period of more than 5 months (8 to 81) before stopping treatment. A significant increase in the size of the tumor and/or the development of new lesions have been observed in all cases. In six patients, the follow -up period after stopping treatment was more than 5 months (5 to 32 months, average: 17 months) and no clinical or radiological progression has been observed.
Discussion : We strongly suspect Cyproterone acetate from being a factor promoting the development of multiple peer meningiomes with a particular endocrine status. We may be faced with a particular histopathological entity given the preferential location of lesions at the base of the skull and the unusual absence of progression after stopping treatment.
Conclusion : although it is not described in the literature, the possibility of a relationship between multiple meningiomas and cyproterone acetate must be studied in more detail.
Source https://www.endocrine-bstracts.org/ea/0016/ea0016p158
Androcur- interview with Profession of Liberation on September 10, 2018
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