In this study we have determined the prevalence of amplification of the proto-oncogenes c-erb B1 (= epidermal growth factor receptor gene), c-erb B2 and c-myc in 44 human intracranial tumours (27 gliomas, six metastases to the brain and 11 meningiomas).
These findings indicate the presence of an autocrine mechanism in human meningiomas based on the co-expression of the c-sis/PDGF-2 proto-oncogene and PDGF-receptor gene and their protein products.
Within the confines of this study, it is concluded that: 1) the estrogen receptor is generally absent in meningioma tissue, and 2) the progesterone receptor is mainly absent in the nuclear compartment, leading to the conclusion that the cytosolic progesterone receptor may be an inactive form.
The high number of SS receptors found in meningiomas is therefore unlikely to be regulated by an autocrine SS production from the meningioma tissue itself but rather from another, unknown distant SS source.
Gene expression of fibroblast growth factors in human gliomas and meningiomas: demonstration of cellular source of basic fibroblast growth factor mRNA and peptide in tumor tissues.
The localization of breakpoints in these 9 cases with deletions suggests that a meningioma locus is localized distal to myoglobin locus, within 22q12.3-qter.
The minimal deletion common to 81 meningiomas, and thus the position of the tentative meningioma tumour suppressor gene (TSG), has been determined to lie distal to the myoglobin locus on the long arm of chromosome 22, corresponding to the region 22q12.3-qter.
Hormonal dependency of cerebral meningiomas. Part 1: Female sex steroid receptors and their significance as specific markers for adjuvant medical therapy.