GENES ON CHROMOSOME 22 INVOLVED IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM TUMORS

In a series of 126 meningiomas, tumor and patient characteristics wer'c investigated and statistically analyzed. A combined cytogenetic and molecular genetic approach was used to study chromosomal abnol'malities and loss of markel'S OIl chromosome 22q. This approach was successfully applied to 93 meningiomas, In 66 cases complete or partial loss of chromosome 22 was observed and in at least 12 of them this chromosome was involved in structural abel'l'ations. In addition to chromosome 22 changes, chromosomes 1, 6, 11, 13, 14, 18, 19, X, and Y were also frequently involved in strue!u ... 1 and numerical aberrations. Statistical analysis revealed a significant association between the number of chromosomal abnormalities and tumor grade. Complex karyotypes predominated in the group of grade II/III meningiomas. FUI'thel1110re, othel' variables showed statistically (Ol' marginally statisticall,Y) significant differences. Meningiomas from the convexity wel'e mOl'e often gl'ade IlIIII, displayed predominantly (pa.'lia]) loss of chromosome 22 and had complex km'yotypes more often. These features were fl'equently found in meningiomas from males. Base meningiomas on the other hand occurred more often in females, they were usually grade I, showed loss of (palis 00 chromosome 22 less often and displayed fewer additional clll'omososmal abn0l111aJities.