Comparative genomic hybridization analysis of genetic alterations associated with malignant progression of meningioma

Little is known about genetic alterations during malignant progression of meningioma. We used comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) in 20 patients (13 with typical, 4 with atypical and 3 with anaplastic meningiomas) to investigate the genetic pathway underlying the development of meningioma. Typical meningiomas displayed only a few genetic changes such as monosomy 22. Anaplastic meningiomas manifested more aberrations than typical meningiomas, frequently exhibiting losses of 1p, 2p, 6q, chromosome 10 and 14q, and gain of 20q, in addition to monosomy 22. The average number of alteration sites in each patient with typical meningioma was significantly less than those in each patient with atypical (p < 0.01) and with anaplastic meningioma (p < 0.05). Anaplastic meningiomas showed the chromosomal changes seen in atypical meningiomas together with other aberrations. These CGH findings suggest that losses of 1p, 2p, 6q, chromosome 10 and 14q, and gain of 20q are genetic changes implicated in the malignant progression of meningioma.