Value of the proliferative and hormonal markers in estimation of biological behaviour of meningioma

Abstract

(Conclusion) Although the proliferative markers and hormonal (progesterone) receptor status of meningiomas seem to provide useful, convenient, and predictive criterions for the subsequent evolution of the tumor, they should be used only in combination with other established histopatological features of tumor malignancy (cellular density, nuclear pleomorphism, nucleolar prominence, mitosis and necrosis - especially multifocal micronecrosis). A simple, reproducible clear set of criteria for the tendency of a meningioma to recur is yet to be determined. In the last few years there are some new data concerning genetic characterization of meningiomas (9) and some cellular proteins (p53, p21, p27) (10) in meningioma cells which may be valuable in precisely discriminating atypical meningiomas from benign or anaplastic meningiomas, at least in histologically borderline cases.

Keywords

• meningioma
• immunohistochemistry
• Ki-67 antigen
• steroids