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Updated: Jun 12, 2026
Validated Immunochemical Assay for Comprehensive Determination of the Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Released from and Bound to Cells
Published on: May 9, 2025
Assessment of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) expression in human meningioma
A Gabriella Wernicke1, Adam P Dicker, Michal Whiton
1Department of Stich Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell School of Medicine at Cornell University, 525 East 68th Street, New York, New York 10065, USA. gaw9008@med.cornell.edu
Purpose:
This 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.
Methods:
Following 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.
Results:
Eighty-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).
Conclusions:
To 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.
Insights
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is expressed in meningioma tumors. Benign meningiomas show the highest EGFR expression, suggesting it could be a therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Molecular pathology
- Cancer research
Background:
- Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumors.
- Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is implicated in various cancers.
- The role of EGFR in meningioma pathogenesis is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate EGFR expression in meningioma.
- To correlate EGFR expression levels with World Health Organization (WHO) tumor grades.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 113 meningioma specimens (85 for final analysis).
- Immunohistochemical staining for EGFR.
- Scoring of staining intensity (SI) and staining percentage (SP).
- Calculation of immunohistochemical score (IHS = SI x SP).
Main Results:
- Meningioma subtypes included benign (67%), atypical (27%), and malignant (6%).
- Significant associations were found between EGFR expression (SP and IHS) and histopathologic subtype.
- Malignant meningiomas exhibited significantly lower EGFR expression (IHS) compared to benign and atypical subtypes (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- This study represents the largest series analyzing EGFR expression in meningioma.
- EGFR expression is highest in benign meningiomas.
- EGFR may represent a potential therapeutic target for meningioma treatment using selective inhibitors.
