Abstract
The aim of this investigation was recognition of the epithelial differentiation and proliferative activity of ependymomas in the spinal cord compared with astrocytomas in the spinal cord and ependymoma in the brain. We investigated histopathological and immunohistochemical examination in thirty-five cases, including eleven ependymomas, thirteen astrocytomas in the spinal region and eleven ependymomas in the intracranial region. An anti-epithelial membrane antigen antibody (EMA), and two types of anti-cytokeratin antibodies, CAM 5.2 (45 and 52 kDa) and keratin (56 and 64 kDa) were applied as epithelial markers. The proliferative potential of the tumors was investigated using the Ki-67 labeling index (LI, %). Histologically, perivascular pseudorosettes were seen in all of the spinal and intracranial ependymomas. There were few ependymal structures in the spinal ependymomas except in the myxopapillary type. Immunohistochemical study demonstrated that nine (82%) were immunoreactive for EMA, eight (73%) were immunoreactive for CAM 5.2 and three (27%) were immunoreactive for keratin in the spinal ependymomas. In the spinal astrocytomas, no tumors were immunoreactive for EMA or CAM 5.2. One of thirteen cases was immunoreactive for keratin. The Ki-67 LI of the spinal ependymomas was lower than that of the intracranial ependymoma (p < 0.01). Epithelial differentiation was found in the ependymomas, which may reflect the differences in histological and biological features between ependymomas and astrocytomas in the spinal cord. Regional differences in ependymomas may influence not only clinical features but also histo-pathological characteristics.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Mørk SJ, Løken AC: Ependymoma: a follow-up study of 101 cases. Cancer 40: 907-915, 1977
Ang LC, Taylor AR, Bergin D, Kaufmann JCE: An immunohistochemical study of papillary tumors in the central nervous system. Cancer 65: 2712-2719, 1990
Birgisson S, Blondal H, Bjornsson J, Olafsdottir K: Tumours in Iceland. 15. Ependymoma. A clinicopathological and immunohistological study. APMIS 100: 294-300, 1992
Coakham HB, Garson JA, Allan PM, Harper EI, Brownell B, Kemshead JT, Lane EB: Immunohistological diagnosis of central nervous system tumours using a monoclonal antibody panel. J Clin Pathol 38: 165-173, 1985
Furness PN, Lowe J, Tarrant GS: Subepithelial basement membrane deposition and intermediate filament expression in choroid plexus neoplasms and ependymomas. Histopathology 16: 251-255, 1990
Mannoji H, Becker LE: Ependymal and choroid plexus tumors: cytokeratin and GFAP expression. Cancer 61: 1377-1385, 1988
Miettinen M, Clark R, Virtanen I: Intermediate filament proteins in choroid plexus and ependyma and their tumors. Am J Pathol 123: 231-240, 1986
Takeuchi H, Kubota T, Kabuto M, Kitai R, Nozaki J, Yamashita J: Prediction of recurrence in histologically benign meningioma: proliferating cell nuclear antigen and Ki-67 immunohistochemical study. Sur Neurol 48: 501-506, 1997
Burger PC, Scheithauer BW: Tumors of the central nervous system. Altas of Tumor Pathology. Series 3, Fascicle 10, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC, 1994, pp 25-161
Goebel HH, Craviolo H: Ultrastructure of human and experimental ependymomas: comparative study. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 31: 54-71, 1972
Hirano A, Ghatak NR, Zimmerman HM: The fine structure of ependymoblastoma. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 32: 144-152, 1973
Kubota T, Ishie J, Yamashima T et al.: Abnormal cilia in malignant ependymoma. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 71: 100-104, 1986
Ho KL, Caccamo DV, Garcia JH: Intracytoplasmic lumina in ependymomas: an ultrastructural study. Ultrastruct Pathol 18: 371-380, 1994
Ng H-K, Tse CCH, Lo STH: Ependymomas-an immunohistochemical study of 14 cases. Histopathology 13: 462-465, 1988
Epstein FJ, Farmer J-P, Freed D: Adult intramedullary spinal cord ependymomas: the result of surgery in 38 patients. J Neurosurg 79: 204-209, 1993
Prayson RA: Clinicopathological study of 61 patients with ependymoma including MIB-1 immunohistochemistry. Ann Diagn Pathol 3: 11-18, 1999
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Takeuchi, H., Kubota, T., Sato, K. et al. Epithelial Differentiation and Proliferative Potential in Spinal Ependymomas. J Neurooncol 58, 13–19 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015844704632
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015844704632