Objective: Recent studies of iron mechanism in the brain have indicated that there may be a relationship between transferrin receptor (TfR) expression and histological malignancy._ TfR expression may also reflect cell proliferation. We investigated TfR staining intensity in intracranial meningiomas, and assessed whether this was related to recurrence and/or malignant proliferation.

Methods: Immunohistochemical techniques were used to assess TfR expression in different types of intracranial meningiomas (n=15) that had been surgically removed. All were primary tumors. The specimens were semiquantitatively scored for staining intensity and proportions of cells stained, and the relationship between TfR immunoscore and recurrence/proliferation was subjectively evaluated.

Results: High levels of TfR expression were observed in all the meningioma subtypes. Three of the 15 cases recurred, and two of these patients died due to intracranial pathology.

Conclusion: Patients with meningiomas that have high TfR immunoscores must be carefully followed for recurrence and/ or malignant transformation.