Assessment of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) expression in human meningioma

Abstract

PurposeThis study explores whether meningioma expresses epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and determines if there is a correlation between the WHO grade of this tumor and the degree of EGFR expression.MethodsFollowing institutional review board approval, 113 meningioma specimens from 89 patients were chosen. Of these, 85 were used for final analysis. After a blinded review, immunohistochemical stains for EGFR were performed. Staining intensity (SI) was scored on a scale 0-3 (from no staining to strong staining). Staining percentage of immunoreactive cells (SP) was scored 1-5 (from the least to the maximum percent of the specimen staining). Immunohistochemical score (IHS) was calculated as the product of SI and SP.ResultsEighty-five samples of meningioma were classified in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) criteria: benign 57/85 (67%), atypical 23/85 (27%), and malignant 5/85 (6%). The majority of samples demonstrated a moderate SI for EGFR. IHS for EGFR demonstrated a significant association between SI and histopathologic subtype. Also, there was a correlation between the SP and histopathologic subtype (p = 0.029). A significant association was determined when the benign and the atypical samples were compared to the malignant with respect to the SP (p = 0.009). While there was a range of the IHS for the benign and the atypical histologic subtypes, malignant tumors exhibited the lowest score and were statistically different from the benign and the atypical specimens (p < 0.001).ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this represents the largest series of meningioma samples analyzed for EGFR expression reported in the literature. EGFR expression is greatest in benign meningiomas and may serve a potential target for therapeutic intervention with selective EGFR inhibitors.

Comparative gene expression profiling of ADAMs, MMPs, TIMPs, EMMPRIN, EGF-R and VEGFA in low grade meningioma

“…Elevated levels of EGFR observed in every meningioma in the present study, is consistent with that demonstrated in a large cohort of meningiomas in which the highest degree of its expression was in benign meningiomas. In addition, they compared immunohistochemistry results to malignant meningiomas, concluding that the expression is inversely correlated to tumour grade and may serve as a potential therapeutic target with selective EGFR inhibitors (39).…”

Molecular Targets and Treatment of Meningioma

“…Approximately 60% of grade II meningiomas have shown point mutations (mainly deletions) in chromosomes [18]. Furthermore, 75%-90% of grade III meningiomas have similar point mutations in chromosomes [18].…”

“…Furthermore, 75%-90% of grade III meningiomas have similar point mutations in chromosomes [18]. Mutations in the 1p and 14q regions of the chromosome (where tumor suppressor genes are believed to e housed) are associated with a worse prognosis.…”

Immunohistochemical analysis of LRIG proteins in meningiomas: correlation between estrogen receptor status and LRIG expression

“…LRIG1, located at chromosome 3p14.3 [12], encodes a negative feedback regulator of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling [13] that enhances receptor ubiquitination and degradation rates and inhibits signaling [15][16][17]. EGFR is commonly expressed in meningiomas [18][19][20]. LRIG1 has been suggested to be a tumor suppressor gene, and its expression has been linked with a good prognosis and better patient survival in epithelial cancers [21][22][23][24].…”