Prognostic significance of steroid hormone receptors and DNA content in meningiomas

Abstract

To investigate the prognostic utility of Estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER, PR) as part of the classical nuclear Steroid hormone receptors superfamily markers and DNA content in a representative intracranial meningiomas. We have immunohistochemically studied the expression of ER and PR as well as DNA content of meningioma collected retrospectively and studied the Correlations between every studied prognostic parameter (age, sex, menopause, nuclear grades, PR and ER). Tumor specimens were immunohistochemically examined with antibodies to ER and PR. A computerized color image analyzer was used to count Feulgen immunostained nuclei for DNA content. The immunohistochemical study of Meningioma specimens showed that 70% were positive immunoreactivity for progesterone receptor while 30% were positive immunoreactivity for oestrogen receptors. The DNA content determined by image cytometry showed, aneuploidy in atypical and malignant meningiomas compared to benign meningiomas. A significant correlation at the 0.01 level (2-tailed) between the nuclear grading and progesterone positive immunoreactivity using the Spearman's test. Progesterone and Estrogen steroid hormone receptors with the nuclear DNA ploidies showed a significant association with tumor grade, play a significant role in Meningioma tumour pathogenesis, supporting the possibility of both prognostic and predictive utilities as well as their application as a test for grading.