Establishment of a molecular cytogenetic analysis for native tumor tissue of meningiomas-suitable for clinical application

BACKGROUND: Meningiomas are mostly benign tumors which arise from the meninges. They are among the cytogenetically best-studied solid tumors, mostly displaying a normal karyotype or, as a typical primary aberration, monosomy of chromosome 22. Further secondary chromosomal aberrations, especially the deletion of chromosome 1p, are correlated with increasing biological aggressiveness up to malignancy. These data are derived from the cytogenetical characterization of 661 meningiomas, from which the genetic progression score (GPS) has been developed. Due to the high expenditure of time and the expert knowledge for the cytogenetical characterization, the aim of this work was to establish an equally reliable yet more rapid clinical diagnosis based on fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on meningiomas. Thus a comparison between the native tumor tissue and the primary culture of the same tumor was done in order to determine the most efficient method for a molecular cytogenetic characterization. The diagnostic procedure has to deliver fast and robust results, since they must enable the attending physician to plan the appropriate follow-up regimens for the patients. All in all, preparations of native tumor tissue as well as preparations of cell culture of 22 meningiomas were tested with FISH for aberrations concerning the prognostically relevant chromosome regions 1p and 9p, and the chromosomes 10, 14, 18 and 22 in comparison with the particular karyotypes revealed by conventional karyotyping using G-banding. RESULTS: The FISH examinations between native and cultured cells showed an accordance of 93.4%. The comparison of FISH data and karyotyping presented accordance to the greatest possible extent concerning the chromosomes 14, 18 and 22, but to detect the progression associated losses of 1p and 9p FISH is the most sensitive method. CONCLUSIONS: The raised data reveal that both methods can be used for a significant analysis of chromosome aberrations on meningiomas. As a result of that the complex primary culture could also be avoided. Therefore a clinical diagnosis based on FISH on meningiomas is at hand for the assignment of patients to a suitable follow-up regimen.