New Tool Revolutionizes Brain Tumor Treatment Predictions

Research from the University of Liverpool and The Walton Center has unveiled a new clinical tool that significantly improves the ability to predict which meningiomas, the most common type of brain tumor, will need treatment. This advancement allows healthcare providers to make more informed decisions, ultimately enhancing patient care.

Meningiomas are diagnosed in about 3,500 new cases annually in the U.K.. Often found incidentally during brain scans, most of these tumors remain harmless. However, some can grow and necessitate surgical intervention or other therapies. Prior to this study, it was challenging for clinicians to determine which patients would face complications, resulting in unnecessary monitoring for some and delays in treatment for others.

IMPACT Tool Offers Insight into Tumor Behavior

Developed in 2019, the IMPACT tool evaluates a patient’s comorbidities, functional status, and imaging characteristics of the tumor to assess the risk of progression. This innovative tool was initially tested on approximately 400 patients receiving neurosurgical care at The Walton Center NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool. Its efficacy has since been validated on over 1,200 patients across 33 hospitals in 15 countries, with follow-up periods extending up to 15 years.

The findings, published in JAMA Oncology, categorize patients into low, medium, or high risk for tumor progression. Specifically, low-risk patients face a 1 in 25 chance of requiring treatment, while medium-risk patients have a 1 in 4 likelihood, and high-risk patients stand at 1 in 2. The majority of progression occurs within the first five years, with older or frail patients showing a low probability of needing intervention.

Dr. Abdurrahman Islim, the study co-lead and a Neurosurgery Registrar at the University of Manchester, emphasized the significance of this research. He stated, “This study is an important step forward in personalizing care for people with meningiomas. For the first time, we can give patients with an incidental meningioma clear answers about their individual risk, helping avoid unnecessary scans for some while ensuring that others get timely treatment.”

Implications for Patient Management and NHS Resources

The results indicate that high-risk patients may benefit from early intervention, while medium-risk patients should continue with regular monitoring. Many low-risk patients could potentially be discharged with guidance on what symptoms to watch for, reducing the burden on healthcare resources.

Professor Michael Jenkinson, who leads the neurosurgery department at the University of Liverpool, highlighted the need to implement the IMPACT tool in clinical practice. He remarked, “It’s important that now we test the IMPACT tool in real-time with patients in clinics, with funding being sought to bring it into routine practice. The ability to offer personalized care will bring not only health benefits to patients but also cost savings to the NHS and wider economic growth.”

Patient representative and co-author Shelli Koszdi shared her personal experience with the tool. “As a patient, I had already chosen observation in consultation with my neurosurgeon, and the IMPACT model helped reassure me I had made the right decision,” she explained. “It enabled me to push thoughts of the meningioma into the background and move on with my life in what could have been a very anxiety-producing situation.”

The IMPACT tool represents a crucial advancement in the management of meningiomas, with the potential to transform how patients are monitored and treated, ensuring that healthcare resources are utilized effectively while enhancing the quality of care. More information can be found in the study published by Dr. Islim and colleagues in JAMA Oncology.