Stromelysin-3 is expressed by aggressive meningiomas.
BACKGROUND
Stromelysin-3 (ST3) that belongs to the metalloproteinase family is proposed to play a role in tumor invasion. The purpose of this work was to study the variation of ST3 expression in meningiomas.


METHODS
Twenty atypical meningiomas were retrieved from the Pathology Department's files at Hopital de Bellevue, Saint-Etienne, France. They were compared with 20 benign meningiomas randomly selected from the same file. The tumors were classified using standard histologic criteria. Frozen sections of the tumors were immunostained for ST3 and MIB-1 to evaluate the proliferative activity of tumor cells.


RESULTS
The study included 5 fibrous meningiomas, 10 transitional meningiomas, 20 syncitial meningiomas, 2 secretory meningiomas, 2 microcystic meningiomas, and 1 angiomatous meningioma. Stromelysin-3 was expressed within the stromal and neoplastic cells of only 1 benign meningioma and 13 atypical meningiomas. The MIB-1 proliferation index was significantly higher in the meningiomas expressing ST3 (Student t test: P < 0.001). The invasion of bone, muscle, and brain by meningiomas as well the recurrence were statistically correlated with their ST3 expression (Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric correlation test, P = 0.001 and P = 0.008, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Stromelysin-3 might play an important role in the invasiveness of meningiomas. Therefore, considering, ST3 in association with evaluation of the MIB-1 proliferating index may be an useful tool to assess the behavior of meningiomas.
Perret
Anne Gentil
AG
Department of Pathology, Hôpital de Bellevue, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France.
Duthel
Robert
R
Fotso
Marie-Jeanette
MJ
Brunon
Jacques
J
Mosnier
Jean-François
JF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D008297:Male; D053507:Matrix Metalloproteinase 11; D008579:Meningioma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis
D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D053507:Matrix Metalloproteinase 11; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases