CD44 Expression in Meningioma and its Correlation with Proliferation Indices

CD44 is a cell adhesion molecule assumed to be related to tumour invasion and metastatic ability and is expressed in variety of tumours including meningiomas.

To evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of CD44 in variable grades and variants of eningioma and to correlate the results with Ki-67 proliferation index and available clinicopathologic variables.

A total of 40 meningioma cases were studied for immunohistochemical expression of CD44 and Ki-67 and correlated with different clinicopathologic variables. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

CD44 was markedly expressed in high grade (II and III) meningioma (81.8%) compared to grade I (18.2%) and that was statistically significant (p<0.001). Ki-67 proliferation activity was significantly correlated with meningioma grade (p<0.001) and brain invasiveness (p=0.033). Moreover, statistically positive correlation (p=0.01) was reported between CD44 and Ki-67 proliferative activity. No statistically significant correlation was detected between CD44 or Ki-67 expression and patients' age, sex, and tumour recurrence rate (p>0.05).

We concluded that CD44 is a marker of aggressiveness in meningioma as it was significantly highly expressed in grade II and III meningioma and was, positively correlated with higher Ki-67 proliferation indices. Therefore, researches should be carried out to identify the role of CD44 targeted therapy in atypical and anaplastic meningiomas as done in other tumours e.g., breast cancer.