The treatment of recurrent unresectable and malignant meningiomas with interferon alpha-2B

OBJECTIVE: Recurrent malignant meningiomas and unresectable meningiomas represent a great therapeutic challenge after the failure of radiation therapy. No effective chemotherapy has been found. We report the preliminary results of the treatment of patients with recurrent unresectable or malignant meningiomas with recombinant interferon alpha-2B (IFN-alpha-2B). METHOD: Each of six patients with either a recurrent malignant meningioma or an unresectable meningioma was treated with IFN-alpha, administered subcutaneously at a dosage of 4 mU/m(2) per day, 5 days per week. Two of the six meningiomas were regular, one was atypical, and three were malignant. RESULTS: Five of six patients exhibited positive response to treatment; with stabilization of the size of the tumor in four patients and slight regression in one. The responses observed lasted from 6 to 14 months. The toxicity associated with prolonged use of IFN-alpha was mild and well tolerated. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that IFN-alpha is effective in the treatment of recurrent malignant meningiomas.