Evaluation of the Migration Behavior in Meningioma-derived Primary Cell Cultures by in Vitro Assay

Ryu, Hyang Hwa; Jeong, Young Il; Sun, Heung Suk; Jin, Yong Hao; Jung, Tae Young; Kim, In Young; Kang, Sam Suk; Jung, Shin

Abstract

Invasion of the brain by meningioma is characterized by presence of irregular groups of tumor cells infiltrated in the adjacent cerebral parenchyma. Brain invasion can occur in histologically benign, atypical or anaplastic (malignant) meningiomas. The presence of brain invasion connotes a great likelihood of recurrence, with brain-invasive histologically benign meningiomas having clinical courses similar to atypical meningiomas. We have evaluated migration ability of different grade of meningioma using primary cultures in order to know their basal migration behavior in vitro. Primary culture cells were obtained from 34 dissociated specimens of meningioma, with 28 benign, 3 atypical, and 3 malignant meningiomas. Their migrations were evaluated by in vitro assay, the simple scratch technique in a confluent cell monolayer with hydroxyurea. in vitro assay, the number of cells migrating across the wound edge (MC) and the maximum distance migrated (MD) were determined in each field. Among the benign meningiomas, average MC/MD were 209 cells/0.90 mm in syncytial (n=13), 203 cells/1.0 mm in fibroblastic (n=8), 189 cells/0.9 mm in transitional (n=3), and 413 cells/1.4 mm in psammomatous type (n=4). Average MC/MD of atypical (n=3) and malignant (n=3) meningioma cultures showed 499 cells/1.2 mm and 196 cells/0.6 mm, respectively. Meningioma-derived primary cell cultures of each subtype had various value of MC/MD even in benign meningiomas, although there was no statistically significant difference of MC/MD according to the subtype or pathologic grade. Together with clinical data, these in vitro results can serve as a predictive test for putative recurrence, assuming that migrating cells may be associated with a high recurrence rate.