Cyclin E1 expression and malignancy in meningiomas

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to analyze if the pathway Skp2-p27-cyclin E1 could also be a tumor progression marker for meningiomas.

Patients and methods: We used quantitative real-time PCR to assess the relative expression levels of the genes coding for cyclin E1 (CCNE1), Skp2 (SKP2), and p27 (P27). The expression levels were compared in grades I to III meningiomas and among different histological subtypes of grade I meningiomas.

Results: Anaplastic meningiomas accounted for 4.9%, atypical meningiomas for 23.5% and grade I meningiomas for 71.6%.CCNE1 expression level was significantly higher in grade II compared to grade I meningiomas (p = 0.0027), and its expression level reliably predicts grade II meningiomas (ROC AUC = 0.731, p = 0.003). CCNE1 expression also correlated with SKP2 and P27 expression levels in grade I meningiomas (r = 0.539, p < 0.0001 and r = 0.687, p = <0.0001, respectively for CCNE1/SKP2 and CCNE1/P27, Spearman's test). Fibrous subtype among grade I meningiomas presented the highest expression levels of CCNE1, SKP2 and P27. Higher expression of cyclin E1 protein was detected in the nuclei of atypical meningiomas compared to grade I meningiomas.

Conclusions: CCNE1 expression level predicts meningioma malignancy, and the fibrous subtype presents the highest gene expression levels among grade I meningiomas.

Keywords: Cyclin E1; Malignancy; Meningioma.