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CD90 expression in atypical meningiomas and meningioma metastasis
Giosuè Scognamiglio1, Antonio D'Antonio2, Giulio Rossi3
1From the Pathology Department.
Objectives:
Meningiomas are slow-growing intracranial/intraspinal tumors, with a wide range of histopathologic variants. The more aggressive atypical and malignant types can disseminate via the venous system, lymphatic, system, or cerebrospinal fluid, with the lung and pleura being the most common sites of extracranial metastases. A case of metastatic meningioma with high expression of CD90 was spotted during a review of flow cytometry data for lung malignancies. Therefore, we have analyzed CD90 expression in a series of meningioma metastases with their corresponding primary tumors and in a series of 92 primary meningioma tumors.
Methods:
In addition to flow cytometry and immunohistochemical analysis of the case, a series of meningiomas and relative metastases has been evaluated for CD90 immunohistochemical expression. Furthermore, an immunohistochemical analysis has been conducted in a tissue microarray, including typical and atypical meningiomas.
Results:
CD90 had high expression in three of four cases of metastases and in their corresponding primary atypical meningioma. In addition, CD90 was significantly expressed in atypical rather than in typical meningiomas (P = .003). However, the correlation of CD90 with patient survival reveals only a trend of statistical association with extracranial metastases.
Conclusions:
CD90 is a biomarker overexpressed in atypical meningioma, with a potential role in metastatic switch of this tumor.
Insights
CD90 is overexpressed in atypical meningiomas, particularly in those that have metastasized. This finding suggests CD90 may play a role in the metastatic spread of meningioma tumors.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Tumor biology
- Biomarker discovery
Background:
- Meningiomas are typically slow-growing tumors with diverse histopathology.
- Aggressive meningioma variants can metastasize extracranially, commonly to the lungs and pleura.
- Extracranial metastasis suggests a more aggressive tumor behavior and potential for systemic spread.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of CD90 in meningioma metastases and primary tumors.
- To determine if CD90 expression differs between typical and atypical meningiomas.
- To explore the potential role of CD90 as a biomarker in meningioma metastasis.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry and immunohistochemical analysis of a metastatic meningioma case.
- Immunohistochemical evaluation of CD90 expression in a series of primary meningiomas and their metastases.
- Tissue microarray analysis of typical and atypical meningiomas for CD90 expression.
Main Results:
- High CD90 expression was observed in three of four metastatic meningioma cases and their primary atypical tumors.
- CD90 expression was significantly higher in atypical meningiomas compared to typical meningiomas (P = .003).
- A trend towards statistical association between CD90 expression and extracranial metastases was noted, but did not reach significance for patient survival.
Conclusions:
- CD90 is significantly overexpressed in atypical meningiomas.
- Elevated CD90 expression may serve as a biomarker for atypical meningioma.
- CD90 might be implicated in the metastatic potential of atypical meningiomas.
