A protein in meningioma tumors may signal a faster return after radiation
Original title: Evaluation of the clinical and mechanistic role of MCM2 expression in the prediction of meningioma recurrence after radiotherapy.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was tested in people. That is the most reliable kind of research we share.
Doctors looked back at past patient records, so this is not yet a proven test for care.
The short version
A tumor protein called MCM2 may show who is more likely to have their tumor come back after radiation.
What was studied. Doctors looked back at records of people with meningioma, a kind of brain tumor. All had surgery and then radiation at one hospital. The group was 15 men (42%) and 21 women (58%), with a mean age of 63.
What they found. Ten tumors (28%) had high levels of the MCM2 protein. The other 26 (72%) had low levels. After radiation, the tumor grew back in 47% of the patients. People with high MCM2 had a much higher chance of the tumor coming back sooner.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: MCM2 can be checked with a common lab stain on tumor tissue already removed in surgery. If this holds up, it could help doctors spot people who need closer watching after radiation. It does not change any treatment today.
What it doesn't mean: This is not a new treatment, and it is not a cure. It is an early look back at records from a small group at one hospital. No one tested whether using this protein test helps people live longer or better. Doctors do not use it this way in everyday care yet.
Source: PubMed, September 1, 2026 · Read the original
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