An immunohistochemical study of HER2 expression in meningioma and its correlation with tumor grade

Meningiomas account for about 15-30% of all primary intracranial tumors. According to the 2007 WHO classification, meningiomas are divided into three grades (I, II and III). Recurrence is an issue following surgical treatment of meningioma, especially in grades II and III. HER2 (also known as erbB-2) is a 185-kD transmembrane glycoprotein with tyrosine kinase activity. HER2 is expressed in some human malignancies and can be a potential target for therapeutic intervention with selective inhibitors. There are only a few studies on the relationship between meningioma and HER2 expression, and the results are different as well. The aim of this study was to determine this relationship. Seventy-two paraffin blocks of meningioma were selected randomly, and immunohistochemical staining was then performed for each specimen. Thirty-one of the 72 meningiomas were HER2-positive. HER2 expression was observed in 11 (55%) of the 20 grade II/III, and 20 (38.5%) of the 52 grade I meningiomas. Consequently, HER2 expression was detected in 43% of meningiomas. No significant difference was seen between grade I and grade II/III meningiomas, primary and recurrent tumors, and males and females from the point of view of HER2 expression.