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Gene Expression in Meningiomas May Vary by Hormone Receptor Status

Dr. Elizabeth B. Claus, Professor of Biostatistics is the lead author on a new study published in Cancer Research finds preliminary evidence that the expression of a number of genes appears to be associated with the presence of hormone receptors in the brain.

An association between hormones and meningioma, a tumor of the lining of the brain, has long been postulated, but the specific nature of this relationship has remained unclear. Now researchers at Yale School of Public Health (YSPH) and Brigham and Women’s Hospital have found preliminary evidence that the expression of a number of genes appears to be associated with the presence of hormone receptors, specifically receptors for progesterone, in new research published in Cancer Research.

“A relationship between hormones and meningioma risk is suggested by a number of findings including the increased prevalence of the disease in women versus men, the presence of estrogen and particularly progesterone receptors in some meningiomas, and a potential association with hormone replacement therapy as well as reports that meningiomas may change in size with menstrual cycle phase, pregnancy, and menopausal status”, says Dr. Elizabeth B. Claus, Professor of Biostatistics at YSPH and lead author of the study. “These data are the first to examine gene expression in meningioma by hormone receptor status and suggest that progesterone status may be a clinical marker for genetic subgroups of meningioma.”

Claus’ research group is currently conducting a large scale national study of meningioma funded by the National Institutes of Health to further examine these pilot findings in a larger, population-based group of subjects.

Co-authors of the study include Peter J. Park, Ph.D. of the Boston Children’s, Rona Carroll, Ph.D. and Drs. Jennifer Chan and Peter M. Black of Brigham and Women’s Hospital.