OUTCOME OF 31 INTRACRANIAL HEMANGIOPERICYTOMAS - POOR PREDICTIVE VALUE OF CELL-PROLIFERATION INDEXES

Cell proliferation indices of 31 primary intracranial haemangiopericyt omas (HPC) and their recurrences and metastases were correlated with t he long-term recurrence, metastasis and survival rates. Paraffin-embed ded specimens were used for K-67, PCNA and p53 immunostainings and for estimation of S-phase fraction (S-PF) in flow cytometry. The median K i-67 and PCNA indices and S-PFs were 10.4, 3.2, and 4.0 for primary HP Cs and 14.1, 14.1, and 5.5 for recurrences, respectively. High indices were associated with higher recurrence, metastasis and death rates, b ut not at the p less than or equal to 0.5 level. Consequently, these i ndices do not seem useful in planning of treatment and follow-up of me ningeal HPCs. Meningeal HPCs, in contrast to meningiomas, recur almost always despite seemingly complete removal and often metastasize elsew here in the body. This difference between two sharply demarcated tumou rs must reflect particularly adhesive and infiltrative properties of H PC cells and not just higher proliferation potential.