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Aims Limited information exists about the impact of cytogenetic alterations on the protein expression profiles of individual meningioma cells and their association with the clinicohistopathological characteristics of the disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential association between the immunophenotypic profile of single meningioma cells and the most relevant features of the tumour. Methods Multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) was used to evaluate the immunophenotypic profile of tumour cells (n = 51 patients) and the Affymetrix U133A chip was applied for the analysis of the gene expression profile (n = 40) of meningioma samples, cytogenetically characterized by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization. Results Overall, a close association between the pattern of protein expression and the cytogenetic profile of tumour cells was found. Thus, diploid tumours displayed higher levels of expression of the CD55 complement regulatory protein, tumours carrying isolated monosomy 22/del(22q) showed greater levels of bcl2 and PDGFRβ and meningiomas carrying complex karyotypes displayed a greater proliferation index and decreased expression of the CD13 ectoenzyme, the CD9 and CD81 tetraspanins, and the Her2/neu growth factor receptor. From the clinical point of view, higher expression of CD53 and CD44 was associated with a poorer outcome. Conclusions Here we show that the protein expression profile of individual meningioma cells is closely associated with tumour cytogenetics, which may reflect the involvement of different signalling pathways in the distinct cytogenetic subgroups of meningiomas, with specific immunophenotypic profiles also translating into a different tumour clinical behaviour.

Summary Connexin43 (CX43), a protein that forms gap junction channels and hemichannels in astrocytes, is downregulated in high-grade gliomas. Its relevance for glioma therapy has been thoroughly explored; however, its positive effects on proliferation are counterbalanced by its effects on migration and invasion. Here, we show that a cell-penetrating peptide based on CX43 (TAT-Cx43266-283) inhibited c-Src and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and upregulated phosphatase and tensin homolog in glioma stem cells (GSCs) derived from patients. Consequently, TAT-Cx43266-283 reduced GSC motility, as analyzed by time-lapse microscopy, and strongly reduced their invasive ability. Interestingly, we investigated the effects of TAT-Cx43266-283 on freshly removed surgical specimens as undissociated glioblastoma blocks, which revealed a dramatic reduction in the growth, migration, and survival of these cells. In conclusion, a region of CX43 (amino acids 266–283) exerts an important anti-tumor effect in patient-derived glioblastoma models that includes impairment of GSC migration and invasion., Highlights • TAT-Cx43266-283 exerts anti-tumor effects in patient-derived glioblastoma models • TAT-Cx43266-283 targets Src, PTEN, and FAK • TAT-Cx43266-283 inhibits glioma stem cell migration and invasion, In this article, Arantxa Tabernero and colleagues show that a short region of Connexin43 exerts an important anti-tumor effect in patient-derived glioblastoma models that includes the impairment of glioma stem cell migration and invasion. This peptide targets important proteins for glioblastoma, such as Src, FAK, and PTEN, highlighting its relevance for therapeutic development against this incurable disease.

Introduction The expression of connexin43 (Cx43), the main gap junction channel-forming protein, is down-regulated in glioma stem cells (GSC). Our previous studies showed that a cell-penetrating peptide containing the region of Cx43 that interacts with the oncoprotein c-Src (TAT-Cx43266–283), inhibits its oncogenic activity and up-regulates the tumour suppressor PTEN. Through this pathway, TAT-Cx43266–283 reduces glioma cell proliferation and reverses the GSC phenotype. Our next goal was to uncover the mechanism of action and the effects of TAT-Cx43266–283 on the migration and invasion of human GSCs. Material and methods Human primary GSCs (G9, G12, G13, G15 and G16) were obtained from glioblastoma patients’ biopsies from the Neurosurgery Service of the Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Spain. The migration was analysed in these primary GSCs by tracking individual cell trajectories in cultures recorded by Time-Lapse Live-cell Imaging and the invasion with Matrigel-treated transwell inserts. The same tumour biopsies were used to study the effect of TAT-Cx43266–283 on fresh undissociated tumour blocks by time-lapse microscopy. The molecular interactions were studied in G166 GSCs by pull-down assays of biotinylated TAT-Cx43266–283 (TAT-Cx43266–283-B) and Western blot analysis. Results and discussions Our results confirmed that TAT-Cx43266–283 strongly reduces the migration and invasion of human primary GSCs by inhibiting c-Src activity and up-regulating PTEN that consequently, lowers the levels of phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase tyrosines 397, 576 and 577. In addition, fresh undissociated tumour blocks revealed a dramatic reduction on the survival of these glioblastoma cells when exposed to TAT-Cx43266–283. By pull-down assays, we showed that TAT-Cx43266–283-B recruits c-Src together with its inhibitors PTEN and Csk, confirming the proposed mechanism for Cx43. Conclusion In conclusion, TAT-Cx43266–283 exerts an important antitumor effect by inhibiting c-Src and up-regulating PTEN with the subsequent reduction in FAK phosphorylation required to establish appropriate focal adhesions for migration, proliferation and survival. This inhibition is mediated by the recruitment of the c-Src intrinsic inhibitors, PTEN and Csk. All together, these results reinforce the relevance of this sequence of Cx43 that interacts with c-Src for the development of new therapies against glioblastoma.

Object The aim of this study is to assess if the recurrence rates and recurrence/progression-free survivals (RFS) are different after Simpson's grades I, II, III and IV resections in World Health Organisation (WHO) grade I meningiomas. Material and methods A retrospective review was conducted on the data of patients who underwent surgical treatment of WHO grade I meningiomas located in convexity, falx/parasagittal, and skull base (anterior/media/posterior) between June 1991 and December 2011. In Simpson's grade IV resections, surgical treatment was supplemented with radiotherapy/radiosurgery on the tumour remains. A comparison was made on the recurrence rates and RFSs between Simpson's grades I, II, III, and IV resections, both overall and in tumour subsets according to their location. Results A total of 208 meningiomas were included in this study. There were no significant differences in recurrence rates and RFSs between Simpson's grades I, II, III, and IV. No significant differences were noted between the different degrees of Simpson in any of the location groups. In convexity meningiomas, the recurrence rates were 7% and 33% in Simpson's grades I and III resections, respectively (p = .131). Conclusions It has been shown that the rates of tumour control in meningiomas are not related to Simpson grades. In falx/parasagittal and skull base meningiomas, more aggressive attempts of tumour resection must be balanced against the risks of damaging critical neurovascular structures. In convexity meningiomas, a Simpson's grade I resection should be attempted first.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.-- et al., Meningiomas are usually considered to be benign central nervous system tumors; however, they show heterogenous clinical, histolopathological and cytogenetic features associated with a variable outcome. In recent years important advances have been achieved in the identification of the genetic/molecular alterations of meningiomas and the signaling pathways involved. Thus, monosomy 22, which is often associated with mutations of the NF2 gene, has emerged as the most frequent alteration of meningiomas; in addition, several other genes (e.g. AKT1, KLF4, TRAF7, SMO) and chromosomes have been found to be recurrently altered often in association with more complex karyotypes and involvement of multiple signaling pathways. Here we review the current knowledge about the most relevant genes involved and the signaling pathways targeted by such alterations. In addition, we summarize those proposals that have been made so far for classification and prognostic stratification of meningiomas based on their genetic/genomic features., This work was partially supported by grants from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (PIC/IC/83108/2007, FCT, Portugal), Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (RD12/0036/0048, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII/FEDER), Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, Madrid, Spain), and Consejeria Sanidad Junta de Castilla y León, Gerencia Regional de Salud: GRS689/A/11, and Proyecto Intramural-IBSAL IB14-05. Patrícia Domingues is partially supported by a grant (SFRH/BD/64799/2009) from FCT. Maria Dolores Tabernero is supported by IECSCYL (Soria, Spain).

[Background]: Tumor recurrence remains the major clinical complication of meningiomas, the majority of recurrences occurring among WHO grade I/benign tumors. In the present study, we propose a new scoring system for the prognostic stratification of meningioma patients based on analysis of a large series of meningiomas followed for a median of >5 years. [Methods]: Tumor cytogenetics were systematically investigated by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization in 302 meningioma samples, and the proposed classification was further validated in an independent series of cases (n = 132) analyzed by high-density (500K) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays. [Results]: Overall, we found an adverse impact on patient relapse-free survival (RFS) for males, presence of brain edema, younger patients (50 mm, tumor localization at intraventricular and anterior cranial base areas, WHO grade II/III meningiomas, and complex karyotypes; the latter 5 variables showed an independent predictive value in multivariate analysis. Based on these parameters, a prognostic score was established for each individual case, and patients were stratified into 4 risk categories with significantly different (P, This work was partially supported by grants from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (PIC/IC/83108/2007, FCT, Portugal); Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (FIS/FEDER 06/0312 and RETICC RD06/0020/0035, RD06/0020/0059 and RD12/0036/0048, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII/FEDER), Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, Madrid, Spain), Caja Burgos (Spain), Fundación MMA (exp 75312010 and 87692011, Madrid, Spain), and Consejeria Sanidad Junta de Castilla y León, Gerencia Regional de Salud: GRS689/A/11. Patrícia Domingues is supported by grant (SFRH/BD/64799/2009) from FCT. Maria Dolores Tabernero is supported by IECSCYL (Fundación Instituto de Estudios Ciencias de la Salud de Castilla y León, Soria, Spain).

Limited information exists about the impact of cytogenetic alterations on the protein expression profiles of individual meningioma cells and their association with the clinicohistopathological characteristics of the disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential association between the immunophenotypic profile of single meningioma cells and the most relevant features of the tumour.Multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) was used to evaluate the immunophenotypic profile of tumour cells (n = 51 patients) and the Affymetrix U133A chip was applied for the analysis of the gene expression profile (n = 40) of meningioma samples, cytogenetically characterized by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization.Overall, a close association between the pattern of protein expression and the cytogenetic profile of tumour cells was found. Thus, diploid tumours displayed higher levels of expression of the CD55 complement regulatory protein, tumours carrying isolated monosomy 22/del(22q) showed greater levels of bcl2 and PDGFRβ and meningiomas carrying complex karyotypes displayed a greater proliferation index and decreased expression of the CD13 ectoenzyme, the CD9 and CD81 tetraspanins, and the Her2/neu growth factor receptor. From the clinical point of view, higher expression of CD53 and CD44 was associated with a poorer outcome.Here we show that the protein expression profile of individual meningioma cells is closely associated with tumour cytogenetics, which may reflect the involvement of different signalling pathways in the distinct cytogenetic subgroups of meningiomas, with specific immunophenotypic profiles also translating into a different tumour clinical behaviour.

[ES]La evacuación endoscópica se considera una alternativa a la craneotomía convencional en el tratamiento de los hematomas intracerebrales, sobre todo si se localizan en estructuras profundas. La valoración de la eficacia de la técnica y sus modificaciones en el animal experimental es fundamental como paso previo a la introducción en la clínica. Los objetivos del estudio fueron desarrollar en el cerdo un modelo de hematoma intracerebral, valorar la eficacia de la evacuación endoscópica y evaluar un nuevo modelo de vaina transparente como instrumento accesorio a la endoscopia. Se generaron hematomas intracerebrales en la sustancia blanca del lóbulo frontal derecho de 17 cerdos mediante la infusión de entre 7 y 20 cc de sangre autóloga. Los animales fueron sacrificados a las 4 horas, 24 horas y 5 días tras la formación del hematoma. Se determinaron los volúmenes residuales y los hallazgos anatomopatológicos en los cerebros fijados tanto en el grupo a los que no se les evacuó el hematoma (grupo control, 6 animales) como el grupo de evacuación endoscópica (grupo problema, 10 animales). La evacuación endoscópica en el grupo problema tuvo lugar a las 2 horas y 12 horas de haberse generado el hematoma. Como accesorio del endoscopio, se utilizó una vaina transparente con un componente externo, con final romo y cerrado, y un componente interno, a través del cual se introducía el endoscopio. Además, a 7 animales se les administró Azul de Evans tras la formación del hematoma (grupo problema de Evans). El volumen residual en el grupo problema fue significativamente menor que el del grupo control (56.25 cc comparado con 565 cc del grupo control, p, [EN] Endoscopic removal is considered an alternative to conventional craniotomy in the treatment of intracerebral hematomas , especially if located in deep structures . The assessment of the effectiveness of the technique and its modifications in the experimental animal is essential as a pre- step introduction into the clinic . The objectives of the study were to develop in the pig model of intracerebral hematoma, assess the efficacy of endoscopic evacuation and evaluate a new model of transparent sleeve as an adjunct to endoscopic instrument. Intracerebral hematomas were generated in the white matter of the right frontal lobe of 17 pigs by infusion of between 7 and 20 cc of autologous blood . The animals were sacrificed at 4 hours, 24 hours and 5 days after hematoma formation . Residual volumes and pathological findings in the brains fixed in both the group to which they were not evacuated the hematoma (control group , 6 animals ) and the endoscopic drainage group ( problem group , 10 animals ) were determined. Endoscopic evacuation in the problem group took place at 2 hours and 12 hours of the hematoma have been generated . As an accessory of the endoscope , a transparent shell with an external component , blunt , closed end , and an internal component is used , through which the endoscope is introduced . In addition , 7 animals were dosed after Evans Blue hematoma formation ( Evans problem group).

The degree of caloric weakness before surgery influences faster or slower recovery of patients undergoing vestibular schwannoma surgery. The Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) is a good index to show the recovery of patients as it relates directly to an improvement or not of the subjective visual vertical (SVV).To evaluate the process of recovery of patients as measured by the SVV and the DHI after surgical removal of vestibular schwannoma.We studied 24 consecutive patients of the University Hospital of Salamanca who underwent vestibular schwannoma surgery. We assessed age, tumour size, degree of canalicular weakness and preoperative SVV, and their relationship with DHI and SVV at discharge and also at 1, 3 and 6 months postoperatively.Patients with lesser degrees of caloric weakness took longer to normalize SVV than those with a higher caloric weakness before surgery (p0.05). There was a significant correlation between DHI and improvements in SVV with time. The differences disappeared in 6 months where all patients, with greater or lesser degree of caloric weakness, had the same results.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License., [Background]: Meningioma was the first solid tumor shown to contain a recurrent genetic alteration e.g. monosomy 22/del(22q), NF2 being the most relevant gene involved. Although monosomy 22/del(22q) is present in half of all meningiomas, and meningiomas frequently carry NF2 mutations, no study has been reported so far in which both alterations are simultaneously assessed and correlated with the features of the disease. [Methods]: Here, we analyzed the frequency of both copy number changes involving chromosome 22 and NF2 mutations in 20 sporadic meningiomas using high-density SNP-arrays, interphase-FISH and PCR techniques. [Results]: Our results show a significant frequency of NF2 mutations (6/20 patients, 30%), most of which (5/6) had not been previously reported in sporadic meningiomas. NF2 mutations involved five different exons and led to a truncated protein (p.Leu163CysfsX46, p.Phe62LeufsX61, p.Asp281MetfsX15, p.Phe285LeufsX11, p.Gln389ArgfsX37) and an in frame deletion of Phe119. Interestingly, all NF2 mutated cases were menopausal women with monosomy 22 but not del(22q). [Conclusions]: These results confirm and extend on previous observations about the high frequency and heterogeneity of NF2 mutations in sporadic meningiomas and indicate they could be restricted to a well-defined cytogenetic and clinical subgroup of menopausal women. Further studies in large series of patients are required to confirm our observations., This work has been partially supported by grants from Consejeria Sanidad Junta de Castilla y León, Gerencia Regional de Salud: GRS689/A/11. Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, Madrid, Spain: RTICC RD06/0020/0035, RD06/0020/0059 and RD12/0036/0048. MD Tabernero is supported by IECSCYL (Fundación Instituto de Estudios Ciencias de la Salud de Castilla y León).

Meningiomas are primary tumors of the central nervous system composed of both neoplastic and other infiltrating cells. We determined the cellular composition of 51 meningioma samples by multiparameter flow cytometric (MFC) immunophenotyping and investigated the potential relationship between mRNA and protein expression levels of neoplastic cells. For immunophenotypic, morphologic, and cytogenetic characterization of individual cell populations, a large panel of markers was used together with phagocytic/endocytic functional assays and MFC sorting. Overall, our results revealed coexistence of CD45 − neoplastic cells and CD45 + immune infiltrating cells in all meningiomas. Infiltrating cells included tissue macrophages, with an HLA-DR + CD14 + CD45 + CD68 + CD16 −/+ CD33 −/+ phenotype and high phagocytic/endocytic activity, and a small proportion of cytotoxic lymphocytes (mostly T CD8 + and natural killer cells). Tumor cells expressed multiple cell adhesion proteins, tetraspanins, HLA-I/HLA-DR molecules, complement regulatory proteins, cell surface ectoenzymes, and growth factor receptors. Noteworthy, the relationship between mRNA and protein levels was variable, depending on the proteins evaluated and the level of infiltration by immune cells. In summary, our results indicate that MFC immunophenotyping provides a reliable tool for the characterization of the patterns of protein expression of different cell populations coexisting in meningioma samples, with a more accurate measure of gene expression profiles of tumor cells at the functional/protein level than conventional mRNA microarray, independently of the degree of infiltration of the tumor by immune cells.

Despite recent advances in the identification of the cytogenetic profiles of meningiomas, a significant group of tumors still show normal karyotypes or few chromosomal changes. The authors analyzed the cytogenetic profile of 50 meningiomas using fluorescence in situ hybridization and high-density (500 K) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays. Our results confirm that del(22q) (52%) and del(1p) (16%) (common deleted regions: 22q11.21-22q13.3. and 1p31.2-p36.33) are the most frequent alterations. Additionally, recurrent monosomy 14 (8%), del(6q) (10%), del(7p) (10%), and del(19q) (4%) were observed, while copy number patterns consistent with recurrent chromosomal gains, gene amplification, and copy number neutral loss of heterozygosity (cnLOH) were either absent or rare. Based on their overall SNP profiles, meningiomas could be classified into: (i) diploid cases, (ii) meningiomas with a single chromosomal change [e.g., monosomy 22/del(22q)] and (iii) tumors with ≥2 altered chromosomes. In summary, our results confirm and extend on previous observations showing that the most recurrent chromosomal abnormalities in meningiomas correspond to chromosome losses localized in chromosomes 1, 22 and less frequently in chromosomes 6, 7, 14, and 19, while chromosomal gains and cnLOH are restricted to a small proportion of cases. Finally, a set of cancer-associated candidate genes associated with the TP53, MYC, CASP3, HDAC1, and TERT signaling pathways was identified, in cases with coexisting monosomy 14 and del(1p). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Supported by: Consejería de Sanidad, Grant number: 66A/06; Consejería de Educación Junta de Castilla y León (Valladolid, Spain), Grant number: HUS 05A06; Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-FEDER, Madrid, Spain (Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias), Grant numbers: FIS/ FEDER 06/0312, RTICC RD06/0020/0035, RD06/0020/0059; Fundación MM, Grant number: AP87692011; IECSCYL (Fundación Instituto de Estudios Ciencias de la Salud de Castilla y León).