IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF GENES DIFFERENTIALLY EXPRESSEDIN MENINGIOMAS

Meningiomas are common tumors derived from the thin membrane that surr ounds the brain and spinal cord. Currently, the molecular mechanisms r esponsible for the initiation and progression of these tumors are larg ely unknown. Toward the elucidation of such mechanisms, we have formul ated an experimental design utilizing the technique of subtractive hyb ridization that is aimed at identifying the changes in gene expression between intracranial meningiomas and their normal precursor cells, le ptomeningeal cells. We report here the identification and initial char acterization of three genes whose expression is altered or aberrant in meningioma cell lines and tumors relative to cultures of normal lepto meningeal cells. Complementary DNA probes from one of these genes dete ct transcripts of altered size in several meningiomas relative to norm al leptomeningeal cells. Another of these genes demonstrates decreased expression in meningiomas and in tumors associated with the disorder neurofibromatosis 2. A third gene isolated by this procedure is differ entially expressed in both meningiomas and breast carcinomas. Therefor e, the decreased expression of these genes may play roles in growth-re gulatory pathways that are abrogated not only in meningiomas, but in o ther tumor types as well.