Proliferative potential of meningiomas determined with the monoclonal antibody Ki-67.

In 30 meningiomas we investigated the proliferation rate of various subtypes with the monoclonal antibody Ki-67. Frozen sections were incubated with Ki-67 antibody using a modified Alkaline Phosphatase anti-Alkaline Phosphatase (APAAP)-technique and evaluation of proliferation rate was done by cell counting. Meningiomas of the meningiotheliomatous, fibrous and angioblastic subtype without atypical histological findings contained 1% or less proliferating cells. In recurrent tumors, in transitional and in anaplastic meningiomas there is a marked increase of proliferating cells up to 20%. The distribution of marked cells varies in recurrent tumors and anaplastic meningiomas, and a focal proliferation of tumor cells was seen in meningiomas from transitional type. Immunohistological labelling of proliferating cells in meningiomas may allow a more precise prediction of the proliferation potential of each meningioma.