About 40,000 people in the US are diagnosed with meningioma each year, making it the most common brain tumor. It grows from the membranes around the brain and spine, and most are slow-growing (grade 1) and can be watched or removed. About 1 in 5 are atypical or malignant (grade 2-3) and tend to come back. Surgery and radiation are the main treatments; no drug is yet approved, but radioactive drugs and gene-matched pills are in trials.
- 95studies open or running
- 3phase 3 trials
- 1,208papers published this year
- 39NIH-funded projects
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Now
Nov 2026
Radiation after surgery for atypical meningiomaHappened 14% recurred in ~5 years
ROAM: recurrence over about 5 years was 14% with radiation vs 30% with scans alone.
14%: recurred within about 5 years with radiation, vs 30% with scans alone.
A targeted pill for aggressive tumorsHappened 10 mo median without growth
Abemaciclib gave a median 10 months without growth in grade 2-3 meningiomas with matching gene changes.
10 mo: median progression-free survival.
Help for inherited NF2 tumorsHappened 23% of tumors shrank
Brigatinib shrank 23% of tumors in NF2-related schwannomatosis; meningiomas responded best.
23%: of all tumors shrank.
A clearer bar for new drugsHappened 38.0% stable at 6 months
RANO set new benchmarks after past drugs held only 38.0% of recurrent grade 2-3 tumors stable for 6 months.
38.0%: of grade 2-3 recurrent meningiomas without growth at 6 months on past drugs.
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6 months
by May 2027
Guidelines catch up with ROAMLikely
Expect treatment guidelines to recommend radiation after complete removal of atypical meningioma.
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12 months
by Nov 2027
A US trial of radiation after surgeryLikely
NRG-BN003 (162 people), the US counterpart to ROAM, finishes June 2027.
A radioactive drug for recurrent meningiomaPossible
EORTC LUMEN-1 (136 people) compares 177Lu-DOTATATE, which targets a receptor most meningiomas carry, with standard care; due April 2027.
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3 years
by late 2029
New targeted pillsPossible
Exelixis' zanzalintinib (due February 2028) and regorafenib (due December 2028) are in trials for recurrent meningioma.
More gene-matched drugsPossible 10 mo abemaciclib arm
The Alliance trial continues testing drugs matched to each tumor's gene changes; due June 2028.
10 mo: median progression-free survival.
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5 years
by late 2031
Radioactive drugs in the USLong shot
An RTOG Foundation trial (130 people) compares 177Lu-DOTATATE with standard care (due August 2029), and a stronger alpha-particle drug is in early trials.
Who needs radiation after surgeryLong shot
A new NRG trial (464 people) will use tumor biology to decide who needs radiation; due 2035.
The research paths
Radiation after surgery
14% recurred in ~5 yearsDetails and 2 trialsHide
Randomized trials now settle when radiation is needed after surgery.
WatchNRG-BN003.
Radioactive drugs
Details and 3 trialsHide
177Lu-DOTATATE and alpha-particle drugs target the SSTR2 receptor found on most meningiomas.
WatchLUMEN-1.
Gene-matched targeted pills
10 mo median without growthDetails and 3 trialsHide
CDK4/6, FAK and multi-kinase inhibitors matched to tumor gene changes.
WatchZanzalintinib; more Alliance arms.
Borrowed from other conditions
From Neuroendocrine tumors
177Lu-DOTATATE
Phase 2 randomized
A radioactive drug approved for neuroendocrine tumors, which share the SSTR2 receptor.
From Breast cancer
Abemaciclib
Phase 2
A CDK4/6 inhibitor pill tested in meningiomas with CDK-pathway changes.
From Lung cancer (ALK)
Brigatinib
Phase 2
A kinase inhibitor tested in NF2-related tumors.
Open to join now
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Recurrent meningioma
177Lu-DOTATATE
Locations and eligibility → -
Recurrent meningioma
177Lu-DOTATATE
Locations and eligibility → -
Recurrent or progressive
Zanzalintinib
Locations and eligibility → -
Progressive, with gene changes
Gene-matched targeted drugs
Locations and eligibility → -
NF2-related schwannomatosis
Targeted drugs for NF2-related tumors
Locations and eligibility →
See every recruiting Meningioma trial →
When the trials finish
Completion dates the trials registered. Results usually follow 3 to 12 months later.
- Heating up
- Maturing
- Early
- Cooling
- Fully enrolled, waiting on results
- Still enrolling
What just happened
ROAM: radiation halves recurrence of atypical meningioma
EANO 2026, The Lancet.
Abemaciclib slows aggressive meningiomas
Alliance A071401.
New benchmarks for meningioma drug trials
RANO, Neuro-Oncology.
Standard treatment today
- Small, no symptomsRegular MRI scans.
- Grade 1, growing or symptomaticSurgery, or focused radiation (radiosurgery) if surgery is risky.
- Grade 2 (atypical)Surgery; radiation afterward, now backed by the ROAM trial.
- Grade 3 or recurrentSurgery and radiation; clinical trials of radioactive drugs and targeted pills.
How to read this page, and sourcesHow to read this page, and sources
- Most meningiomas are slow-growing and never need drug treatment; most results here apply to grade 2-3 or recurrent tumors.
- Forecasts are editorial judgments by Find a Trial, not predictions from sponsors or regulators.
See Meningioma trials recruiting now →