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Updated: Dec 15, 2025
Comparative Lesions Analysis Through a Targeted Sequencing Approach
Published on: November 5, 2019
Identification of shared genomic aberrations between angiomatous and microcystic meningiomas
Yasuhiro Kuroi1,2, Hiroyuki Akagawa1,2, Makoto Shibuya1,3
1Department of Neurosurgery, Tokyo Women's Medical University Medical Center East, Tokyo, Japan.
Background:
Angiomatous and microcytic meningiomas are classified as rare subtypes of grade I meningiomas by World Health Organization (WHO). They typically exhibit distinct histopathological features as indicated by their WHO titles; however, these angiomatous and microcystic features are often intermixed. Recently, angiomatous meningiomas were reported to show characteristic chromosomal polysomies unlike the other WHO grade I meningiomas. In the present study, we hypothesize that microcystic meningiomas share similar cytogenetic abnormalities with angiomatous meningioma.
Methods:
We performed copy number analysis using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays for three angiomatous and eight microcystic meningiomas. Of these, three angiomatous and three microcystic meningiomas were also analyzed by whole exome sequencing and RNA sequencing.
Results:
We first analyzed three angiomatous and three microcystic meningiomas for which both frozen tissues and peripheral blood were accessible. Copy number analysis confirmed previously reported multiple polysomies in angiomatous meningiomas, which were entirely replicated in microcystic meningiomas when analyzed on different analytical platforms with five additional samples prepared from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumors. Polysomy of chromosome 5 was found in all cases, along with chromosome 6, 12, 17, 18, and 20 in more than half of the cases including both angiomatous and microcystic meningiomas. Furthermore, next generation sequencing did not reveal any distinctive somatic point mutations or differences in gene expression characterizing either angiomatous or microcystic meningiomas, indicating a common genetic mechanism underlying tumorigenesis.
Conclusions:
Angiomatous and microcystic meningiomas have substantially similar genetic profiles represented by the characteristic patterns of multiple polysomies originating from chromosome 5 amplification.
Insights
Angiomatous and microcytic meningiomas share similar genetic profiles, characterized by multiple chromosome polysomies, particularly involving chromosome 5. This suggests a common genetic origin for these rare World Health Organization (WHO) grade I meningioma subtypes.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Cancer Genetics
- Genomics
Background:
- Angiomatous and microcytic meningiomas are rare World Health Organization (WHO) grade I subtypes.
- While histopathologically distinct, these subtypes often present with intermixed features.
- Recent studies indicate characteristic chromosomal polysomies in angiomatous meningiomas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if microcytic meningiomas share similar cytogenetic abnormalities with angiomatous meningiomas.
- To compare the genetic profiles of angiomatous and microcytic meningiomas.
Main Methods:
- Copy number analysis using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays on 11 meningioma samples (3 angiomatous, 8 microcytic).
- Whole exome sequencing and RNA sequencing on 6 samples (3 angiomatous, 3 microcytic).
Main Results:
- Confirmed multiple polysomies in angiomatous meningiomas, replicated in microcytic meningiomas.
- Polysomy of chromosome 5 was present in all cases; chromosomes 6, 12, 17, 18, and 20 were affected in over half.
- Next-generation sequencing revealed no distinctive somatic mutations or gene expression differences between subtypes.
Conclusions:
- Angiomatous and microcystic meningiomas exhibit highly similar genetic profiles.
- The common genetic hallmark is multiple polysomies, originating from chromosome 5 amplification.
- This suggests a shared genetic mechanism underlying the tumorigenesis of these meningioma subtypes.
