Abstract
Meningioma is the most common intracranial tumor, and recent studies have drawn attention to the importance of further research on malignant meningioma. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) grading, meningioma is classified into 15 subtypes with three grades of malignancy. However, due to a lack of descriptions of molecular subtypes, genetic mutations, or other features, there were deficiencies in the WHO classification. The DNA methylation-based meningioma classification published in 2017 used DNA copy number analysis, mutation profiling, and RNA sequencing to distinguish six clinically relevant methylation classes, which contributed to a better prediction of tumor recurrence and prognosis. Further studies indicated that gene variation and gene mutations, such as those in neurofibromin 2 (NF2) and BRCA1, were related to the high WHO grade, malignant invasion, and recurrence. Among the mutant genes described above, some have been associated with differential DNA methylation. Herein, we searched for articles published in PubMed and Web of Science from January 2000 to May 2020 by entering the keywords “meningioma,” “methylation,” and “gene mutation,” and found a number of published studies that analyzed DNA methylation in meningiomas. In this review, we summarize the key findings of recent studies on methylation status and genetic mutations of meningioma and discuss the current deficits of the WHO grading. We also propose that a methylation-based meningioma classification could provide clues in the assessment of individual risk of meningioma recurrence, which is associated with clinical benefits for patients.
Highlights
Meningiomas, tumors of the meningeal coverings of the brain and spinal cord, are the most common intracranial tumors
Many studies have demonstrated that epigenetic changes, especially DNA methylation, as well as genetic mutations are related to tumor prognosis [4] (Table 1)
We identified 599 studies addressing aberrant DNA methylation and genetic mutation in meningiomas
Summary
Meningiomas, tumors of the meningeal coverings of the brain and spinal cord, are the most common intracranial tumors. The WHO grade is considered to be the Methylation and Meningioma Prognosis most reliable indicator in predicting meningioma prognosis [2, 3], there is significant variation with regards to the risk of recurrence for individual patients [4, 5]. Many studies have demonstrated that epigenetic changes, especially DNA methylation, as well as genetic mutations are related to tumor prognosis [4] (Table 1). A totally new classification based on DNA copy number analysis, mutational profiling, and RNA sequencing has been used to distinguish six individual clinically relevant methylation classes [6] to better predict tumor recurrence and prognosis. A series of studies have identified methylation profiling as a marker of malignancy or poor survival rates and genetic mutations as an indicator of histology grade. The most recent papers suggest that many potential genes, like NDRG2 and MAL2, are related to DNA methylation, but whether they can predict prognosis remains controversial
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