Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40815185›Full record

ArticleHistopathology2025

Merlin immunohistochemistry is a reliable surrogate marker for NF2 gene alterations in meningioma.

Mayu Kashiwagi-Hakozaki, Masako Ikemura, Satoru Miyawaki, Yu Teranishi, Atsushi Okano, Nobuhito Saito, Tetsuo Ushiku

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Article in Histopathology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Mayu Kashiwagi-HakozakiDepartment of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4902-898X
Masako IkemuraDepartment of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7148-778X
Satoru MiyawakiDepartment of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6369-3391
Yu TeranishiDepartment of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7448-742X
Atsushi OkanoDepartment of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7016-4965
Nobuhito SaitoDepartment of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9756-781X
Tetsuo UshikuDepartment of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1763-8380

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsMolecular characterization as well as histologic grading has proven useful in predicting the biological behaviour of meningiomas. NF2 gene alterations, that is 22q loss and/or NF2 mutation, are the most common genetic driver events in meningioma and are associated with tumour location, histological subtype and aggressiveness. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of immunostaining for Merlin, the NF2-encoded protein, as a surrogate marker for detecting NF2 gene alterations. METHODS AND

resultsWe analysed 109 CNS WHO Grade I meningiomas, comparing the Merlin immunostaining patterns with NF2 gene status. Complete loss of Merlin expression was observed in 46 of 51 (90%) meningiomas with NF2 alterations, whereas it was observed in 5 of 58 (9%) meningiomas without NF2 alterations. Therefore, Merlin immunohistochemistry could achieve relatively high sensitivity (90%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 79%-97%) and specificity (91%, 95% CI: 81%-97%) in detecting NF2 alterations. Although some cases required careful interpretation, interobserver agreement was high at 93%.

conclusionsThese findings suggest that Merlin immunohistochemistry could serve as a reliable and practical surrogate marker for NF2 alterations in meningioma. It may support molecular-based classification and risk stratification in clinical and research settings. However, caution is warranted in cases with cautery tissue damage and prominent macrophages, which can obscure staining patterns.

Indexed as

Biomarkers, TumorMeningeal NeoplasmsMeningiomaNeurofibromin 2AdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleGenes, Neurofibromatosis 2HumansImmunohistochemistryMaleMiddle AgedSensitivity and SpecificityYoung AdultBiomarkers, TumorNeurofibromin 2NF2 protein, humanimmunohistochemistrymeningiomaMerlinNF2

Identifiers

PMID40815185
PMCPMC12605669

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