Correlation of Clinical and Biological Parameters with Peritumoral Edema in Meningioma

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Peritumoral edema(PTE) in meningioma occurs variably and can adversely affect the clinical course. Moreover, the etiology of PTE in meningioma is not well documented. To examine possible correlations with PTE, the authors report an investigation of the clinical parameters and the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs), and their inhibitors(TIMPs) in 20 meningiomas. METHODS: Tumor volume and edema volume estimation was done using Osiris software with magnetic resonance images and the edema index was calculated. The expression of VEGF, MMP, and TIMP were estimated in all 20 meningiomas by Western blotting, zymography, and laser densitometry. RESULTS: Tumor location was closely related with PTE. Meningiomas of the frontal lobe or the frontotemporal base had large PTEs, whereas those of the occipitoparietal lobe, posterior fossa or petroclivus were small. The level of VEGF expression bore no correlation with histologic malignancy and PTE extent. MMP-2 and -9 were detected in 100% of meningiomas and these levels were significantly related with PTE. TIMP-1 and -2 were detected in 19(95%) and 12(60%) of meningiomas respectively and their presence had no significant correlations statistically with PTE. CONCLUSION: Meningiomas with severe PTE expressed high levels of MMP-9 and low levels of MMP-2. The expressions of VEGF, MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMPs in meningioma seems to be strongly related with PTE, which might be important factors of the etiology of PTE.