Expression of PDGF, PDGF-receptor, EGF-receptor and sex hormone receptors on meningioma.

The expression of platelet derived growth factors (PDGF), the PDGF-Receptor (R) (alpha and beta types), epidermal growth factor (EGF)-Receptor (R) and sex hormone (oestrogen and progesterone) receptors was studied in 22 meningiomas. All tumours were PDGF-R beta type positive and 21 (95%) were PDGF positive. Only 2 (9%) were PDGF-R alpha type positive, 13 (59%) were EGF-R positive. The expression of these proteins was not related to the histological type or the malignancy of the meningiomas although the expression of PDGF and PDGF-R beta tended to be stronger in malignant meningiomas. Oestrogen and progesterone receptor protein were examined in 19 patients (10 females and 9 males). None of the meningioma cells revealed oestrogen receptor protein while 17 (89%) of the 19 meningiomas were positive for progesterone receptor protein. The expression of progesterone receptor was not related to histological type or malignancy. Our studies suggest that the autocrine system, through PDGF and PDGF-R type beta, may play an important role in the tumourigenicity of meningiomas. EGF-R was present in almost half and progesterone receptor in most of the meningiomas. There was no correlation between the expression of either PDGF, PDGF-R or EGF-R and the expression of progesterone receptor protein.