The impact of progesterone receptor expression on relapse in the long-term clinical course of 93 benign meningiomas

Abstract

Background: Previous clinicopathological observations have pointed towards an impact of progesterone receptor (PgR) expression on the clinical course of meningiomas.

Materials and methods: EXpression of PgR and the proliferation marker MIB-1 was assessed by immunohistochemistry in the primary tumours of 30 cases of benign, completely resected, recurrent meningiomas and compared with 63 cases of meningioma without recurrence for 14 or more years.

Results: Univariate analysis showed a significantly higher risk for recurrence (odds ratio 3.533) for tumours with a low expression of PgR. A tendency for a higher risk for tumours with higher proliferation rate (odds ratio 6.889) was not significant. In 20 cases in which the primary tumour could be compared with its recurrence, no consistent changes of PgR expression were observed.

Conclusion: Our findings support previous studies that found an association of low or absent expression of PgR with a higher risk of recurrence. This encourages attempts at a hormonal therapy for patients with PgR-positive meningioma.