Immunohistochemical expression of cell cycle/apoptosis regulators and epidermal growth factor receptor in pediatric...

Intracranial ependymomas are the third most common primary brain tumor in children. We set out to investigate the expression of p-53, p-27, bcl-2, and epidermal growth factor receptor in 13 pediatric infratentorial ependymomas, in correlation with Ki-67/ MIB-1 proliferation index and prognosis. The median progression-free survival was 37.5 months, and the 5-year overall survival was 50%. There was a statistically significant higher expression of Ki-67 and p-53 index in anaplastic tumors. There was also a higher expression of p-27, bcl-2, and epidermal growth factor receptor in anaplastic tumors, but the difference was not statistical significant. No significant correlation was found between overall survival and level of expression of Ki-67, p-53, p-27, bcl-2, and epidermal growth factor receptor. Epidermal growth factor receptor detection in a considerable number of ependymomas probably reflects its role in the neoplastic transformation and can serve as a therapeutic target.