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Updated: Sep 28, 2025
Genome-Wide Analysis of DNA Methylation in Gastrointestinal Cancer
Published on: September 18, 2020
DNA Methylation Associates With Clinical Courses of Atypical Meningiomas: A Matched Case-Control Study
Matthias Millesi1,2, Alice Senta Ryba1,2, Johannes A Hainfellner2,3
1Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Background:
Accounting for 15-20% of all meningiomas, WHO grade II meningiomas represent an intermediate group regarding risk of tumor recurrence. However, even within this subgroup varying clinical courses are observed with potential occurrence of multiple recurrences. Recently, DNA methylation profiles showed their value for distinguishing biological behaviors in meningiomas. Therefore, aim of this study was to investigate DNA methylation profiles in WHO grade II meningiomas.
Methods:
All patients that underwent resection of WHO grade II meningiomas between 1993 and 2015 were screened for a dismal course clinical course with ≥2 recurrences. These were matched to control cases with benign clinical courses without tumor recurrence. DNA methylation was assessed using the Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip microarray. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering was performed for identification of DNA methylation profiles associated with such a dismal clinical course.
Results:
Overall, 11 patients with WHO grade II meningiomas with ≥2 recurrences (Group dismal) and matched 11 patients without tumor recurrence (Group benign) were identified. DNA methylation profiles revealed 3 clusters-one comprising only patients of group dismal, a second cluster comprising mainly patients from group benign and a third cluster comprising one group dismal and one group benign patient. Based on differential methylation pattern associations with the Wnt and the related cadherin signaling pathway was observed.
Conclusion:
DNA methylation clustering showed remarkable differences between two matched subgroups of WHO grade II meningiomas. Thus, DNA methylation profiles may have the potential to support prognostic considerations regarding meningioma recurrence and radiotherapeutic treatment allocation after surgical resection.
Insights
DNA methylation profiles reveal distinct clusters in WHO grade II meningiomas, differentiating aggressive tumors from benign ones. This may aid in predicting meningioma recurrence and guiding treatment decisions.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- WHO grade II meningiomas (15-20% of all meningiomas) have intermediate recurrence risk, with variable clinical courses.
- Distinct DNA methylation profiles have shown promise in classifying meningioma biological behavior.
- Understanding these profiles is crucial for predicting recurrence and optimizing treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate DNA methylation profiles in WHO grade II meningiomas.
- To identify methylation patterns associated with aggressive tumor recurrence.
- To explore the potential of DNA methylation for prognostic stratification.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 11 patients with ≥2 recurrences (dismal group) and 11 matched controls without recurrence (benign group).
- DNA methylation assessment using the Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip microarray.
- Unsupervised hierarchical clustering to identify methylation profiles linked to dismal clinical course.
Main Results:
- DNA methylation profiling identified 3 distinct clusters.
- One cluster comprised exclusively dismal group patients; another mainly benign group patients.
- Differential methylation patterns were associated with Wnt and cadherin signaling pathways.
Conclusions:
- DNA methylation clustering revealed significant differences between matched WHO grade II meningioma subgroups.
- Methylation profiles show potential for improving prognostic accuracy for meningioma recurrence.
- These findings may inform radiotherapeutic treatment allocation post-surgery.
