Recurrent meningiomas: The predictive value of proliferation markers and bcl-2

Introduction: The significance of proliferation markers and of an “anti-apoptosis” marker bcl-2 in predicting recurrencies of meningiomas was investigated by means of immunohistochemistry and morphometry. Methods: The numerical density (ND) and labelling index (LI) of cells immunopositive 3or PCNA, MIB-1, bcl-2 were determined. Group 0 (G0) consisted of 10 meningotheliomatous meningiomas (MM) without recurrency during the last five years. G1 consisted of 10 MM which recurred and became MM. G2 consisted of 6 MM which recurred and became anaplastic meningiomas. Group 3 (G3) consisted of 3 anaplastic meningiomas at first operation. Results: The comparison of all determined parameters at first operation between two groups (i.e. , , , , , ) showed that not in all cases did the differences reach the level of statistical significance. Plots of the individual data for each parameter show large overlap among G0, G1, and G2. In G1, nearly all the cases with one recurrency showed a decrease of the MIB1-LI and MIB1-ND in the material from the second operation as compared to that from the first intervention. In G1, in the cases with two recurrencies, a heterogeneous pattern of increased or decreased PCNA-LI, PCNA-ND, MIB1-LI, and MIB-ND was observed. In G2, the cases with one recurrency, showed, with the exception of one case, a significant increase of PCNA-LI, PCNA-ND, MIB1-LI, and MIB-ND. In G2, in the cases with two recurrencies, a heterogeneous pattern of decreased or increased PCNA-LI, PCNA-ND, MIB1-LI, and MIB-ND was observed between the tumor material from the different surgical interventions. Discussion and Conclusion: Proliferation markers do not give significant information for predicting the potential of the tumor to recur.