Request for Funding

Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2004

Mentor: Jack Raisanen, MD
Department: Pathology
Room number: H2.130
Mail Code: 9073
Phone number: 648-2148
E-mail: jack.raisanen@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title: Molecular diagnosis of meningioma

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 0902-533

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Project Type: (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects) Patient-based Research

Brief Description of Project:

Meningothelial cells occur in the ventricles and surround the brain and spinal cord so, in adults, meningioma is in the differential diagnosis for central nervous system (CNS) tumors at almost every site. On routine histologic sections, meningiomas can mimic astrocytomas, ependymomas, schwannomas, carcinomas or melanomas, so confirmatory studies may be required for diagnosis. In this setting, a battery of special stains is often used because, so far, the cells of meningiomas are not known to expresses a specific antigen. Since mesothelial cells and some meningothelial cells are derived from embryonic mesoderm and share similar functions, they may contain similar antigens. Recently, a variety of new molecules have been identified in mesothelial cells and the cells of mesotheliomas, among them calretinin, mesothelin, cytokeratin 5/6 and WT1. We will obtain archival samples of meningiomas including meningothelial, transitional, fibroblastic, atypical, anaplastic, papillary, secretory, microcystic, psammomatous, angiomatous, clear cell, rhabdoid, chordoid, xanthomatous and lymphoplasmacytic subtypes and determine expression of these and several other potentially useful antigens using a labeled polymer immunohistochemial technique. In addition, since the most important diagnosis in the differential is carcinoma, we will do a comparative study using archival samples of carcinomas from various organs. Accurate diagnosis of CNS tumors is important because treatment and prognosis vary with tumor type. The findings from these experiments will either identify a molecular marker of meningiomas or a panel of markers that will provide high diagnostic specificity.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

None

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