Correlation of Expression Transforming Growth Factor-β1, E-cadherin, and Ki-67 in Meningiomas

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Meningioma is the most common primary intracranial tumors in adults, accounts for 36% of total intracranial tumors. Obtaining the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with meningioma and investigating, the association between signaling pathways with disease progression could provide a basis for therapeutic development.AIM: This study aims to investigate the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), E-cadherin, and Ki-67 in meningiomas.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study examined the expression levels of E-cadherin, Ki-67, and TGF-β1 with respect to the WHO grade in patients with meningioma. A total of 62 meningioma samples were analyzed. By the WHO criteria, 54 specimens were diagnosed as the WHO Grade 1, 6 as Grade 2, and 2 as Grade 3. Grade 1 was classified as low-grade meningioma, while Grade 2 and Grade 3 were classified as high-grade meningioma (HGM).RESULTS: In this study, the mean age diagnosis was 41.97 ± 9.79 years old, with female: male ratio of 8:1. There was no association between age, sex, and tumor location with the progression of meningioma. Immune-characterization revealed that HGM was associated with the higher number of Ki-67+ cells (p < 0.0001) and lower expression of TGF-β1 and E-cadherin (p < 0.001). The number of Ki-67+ cells was inversely correlated with TGF-β1 and E-cadherin (p < 0.05). TGF-β1 expression was positively correlated with E-cadherin expression (p < 0.0001).CONCLUSION: This study concluded that HGM was highly proliferative (high Ki-67+) and invasive (low E-cadherin), with dysregulated TGF-β1 signaling. In addition, younger age at diagnosis and high female: male ratio in our series suggests that Indonesian females might possess specific risk factors for having meningioma.