Meningiomas are tumours that develop in the protective layers around the brain. Some grow back after treatment. This study aims to understand which tumour features can help predict this risk and guide future treatment decisions.

Doctors at participating hospitals, including University College London Hospitals, will collect information from existing medical records about tumour size, symptoms, surgery, subsequent treatment and whether the tumour has grown back or required further treatment. Researchers will combine this information with existing laboratory results from tumour samples, including any detailed tests examining the tumour’s genetic material, or DNA.

To protect patients’ privacy, each patient’s information will be labelled with a study reference number. Names, addresses and other details that directly identify patients will not be shared with the research teams in Heidelberg and Vienna. The study information will be transferred securely to Heidelberg and analysed jointly with researchers in Vienna.

We hope the findings will help doctors predict which meningiomas are more likely to grow back and support future decisions about radiotherapy, a treatment that uses radiation to control tumour growth.