Chromosomal and genetic abnormalities in benign and malignant meningiomas using DNA microarray

Meningioma is the commonest brain tumor and many genetic abnormalities, such as the loss of chromosome 22q and the mutation of NF2, have been reported.

These classical abnormalities were detected using Southern blot, PCR, fluorescence in situ hybridization and comparative genomic hybridization, but these methods examine only very limited regions or limited mapping resolution of the tumor genome. In this study, we used DNA microarray assay, which detects numerous genetic abnormalities simultaneously and analyses a global assessment of molecular events in meningioma cells. We studied 31 meningiomas by GenoSensor Array 300 in order to detect the chromosomal aberrations and genetic abnormalities in the whole genome.

This study demonstrated not only classical chromosomal aberration, such as loss of chromosome 22q in 19 meningiomas (61.3%), but also new genetic characteristics of meningiomas, such as amplification of MSH2 in 16 meningiomas (51.6%), deletion of GSCL in 13 meningiomas (41.9%) and deletion of HIRA in seven meningiomas (22.6%).

These results suggest that DNA microarray assay is useful in research for the genetic characters of meningiomas and understanding tumorigenesis.