Bilateral Meningioma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Scientific paper - Review paper

• Author: Anja Bukovac
• Author: Hana Panić
• Author: Tomislava Mrgan
• Author: Nika Šlaus
• Author: Anja Kafka
• Author: Niko Njirić
• Author: Nives Pećina-Šlaus
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Croatian Institiute for Brain Research)
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Medical Biology)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences; Clinical Biochemistry

Abstract (english)

Here, we present a rarely seen example of bilateral meningiomas exhibiting different malignancy grades, I (meningothelial) and II (atypical), recorded in a 72-year-old patient. The presence of two separated lesions of different grades in a single patient can elucidate meningioma progression. To this end, the involvement of specific protein markers of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), the process responsible for progression, was tested in both tumors. Protein expression status of specific epithelial (E-cadherin) and mesenchymal markers (N-cadherin, SNAIL&SLUG and TWIST1) was investigated. Furthermore, markers that are connected to Wnt signaling pathway–beta-catenin, GSK3beta and DVL1—were also analyzed. For signs of neurofibromatosis and schwanomatosis genetic testing was performed. Immunohistochemistry evaluated by immunoreactivity score (IRS) was used to determine the signal strengths and proteins’ location. Our results indicated that, in comparison to the grade I tumor, mesenchymal markers SNAIL and SLUG were upregulated in the atypical meningioma. TWIST1, beta-catenin and GSK3beta were upregulated in both grades, while E-cadherin was partially lost. A pronounced cadherin switch could not be established; however, N-cadherin showed widespread tissue presence. Genetic testing did not detect changes of NF2 or SMARCB1 genes denying germline origin of the lesions. The rare presence of two different grades in one patient elucidate previously unknown molecules involved in meningioma progression.

• Keywords (english): Aged; Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics; Female; Genetic Testing / methods; Humans; Meningeal Neoplasms / genetics; Meningeal Neoplasms / pathology; Meningioma / genetics; Meningioma / pathology
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Review paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Numbering: vol. 23, no. 3, 1187
• e-ISSN: 1422-0067
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23031187
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:455509
• Publication: 2022-01-21
• Project: Number: KK.01.1.1.01.0007; Title (croatian): Eksperimentalna i klinička istraživanja hipoksijsko-ishemijskog oštećenja mozga u perinatalnoj i odrasloj dobi; Leader: Ivica Kostović; Jurisdiction: eu
• Document URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/3/1187
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2022-10-20 08:19:56