Methylation of O6-Methyl Guanine Methyltransferase Gene Promoter in Meningiomas - Comparison between Tumor Grades I, II, and III

Background: Meningiomas are the second most common primary intracranial tumors after gliomas. Epigeneticbiomarkers such as DNA methylation, which is found in many tumors and is thus important in tumorigenesiscan help diagnose meningiomas and predict response to adjuvant chemotherapy. We investigated aberrant O6-methyl guanine methyltransferase (MGMT) methylation in meningiomas. Materials and
Methods: Sixty-onepatients were classified according to the WHO grading, and MGMT promoter methylation status was examinedvia the methylation-Specific PCR(MSP) method.
Results: MGMT promoter methylation was found in 22.2% ofgrade I, 35% of grade I with atypical features, 36% of grade II, and 42.9% of grade III tumors.
Conclusions:There was an increase, albeit not statistically significant, in MGMT methylation with a rise in the tumor grade.Higher methylation levels were also observed in the male gender.