CORRELATION OF PROGESTERONE RECEPTORS AND P63 TO THE HISTOLOGICAL GRADE OF MENINGIOMAS: REVIEW AND SIGNIFICANCE IN AN AFRICAN POPULATION.

Introduction: Meningiomas are the most common neoplasm of the central nervous system. According to the WHO 2020 classification, there are fifteen subtypes that have been grouped into grades 1, 2, and 3. The WHO grade 1 meningiomas are generally grouped as benign while the WHO grade 2 and 3 tumours are grouped as malignant. Progesterone receptors and P63 are common immunohistochemical markers reported useful in the diagnosis, grading, and prognosis of meningiomas. This study seeks to determine the usefulness of these findings in our population. Methodology: A 10-year retrospective review of histologically diagnosed cases of meningioma. Immunostaining for progesterone receptors and P63 were performed and the results were correlated with the histologic grades and sex of the patients. Results: The three WHO grades of meningioma were assessed in this study. The M:F ratio was 1:1.4 and peak age incidence was seen in the 41 - 50 years age range. The majority of the cases were WHO grade 1 (86.1%) while WHO grades 2 and 3 tumours were 8% and 5.9%. There was no correlation between Progesterone receptor and P63 immunopositivity to the WHO grades or sex. Conclusion: This study concluded that Progesterone receptors and P63 immunopositivity did not correlate with the WHO grades of meningiomas. This may be due to the predominant variant of meningioma seen in this study. Thus, progesterone receptor antagonists may not be an effective alternative for treatment in patients with inoperable meningiomas. Also, P63 immunopositivity may not be a sufficient grading tool in the management of meningiomas in our population.