Expression of proto-oncogene <it>KIT</it> is up-regulated in subset of human meningiomas

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>KIT</it> is a proto-oncogene involved in diverse neoplastic processes. Aberrant kinase activity of the KIT receptor has been targeted by tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy in different neoplasias. In all the earlier studies, KIT expression was reported to be absent in meningiomas. However, we observed <it>KIT</it> mRNA expression in some meningioma cases. This prompted us to undertake its detailed analyses in meningioma tissues resected during 2008–2009.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Tumor tissues and matched peripheral blood samples collected from meningioma patients were used for detailed molecular analyses. KIT expression was ascertained immunohistochemically and validated by immunoblotting. <it>KIT</it> and <it>KITLG</it> transcript levels were discerned by reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). Similarly, <it>KIT</it> amplification and allele loss were assessed by quantitative real-time (qPCR) and validated by fluorescence <it>in situ</it> hybridization (FISH) on the neoplastic tissues. Possible alterations of the gene at the nucleotide level were analyzed by sequencing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Contrary to earlier reports, KIT expression, was detected immunohistochemically in 20.6% meningioma cases (n = 34). Receptor (<it>KIT)</it> and ligand (<it>KITLG)</it> transcripts monitored by RT-qPCR were found to co-express (p = 0.048) in most of the KIT immunopositive tumors. 1/7 KIT positive meningiomas showed allele loss corroborated by reduced FISH signal in the corresponding neoplastic tissue. Sequence analysis of <it>KIT</it> showed M541L substitution in exon 10, in one of the immunopositive cases. However, its biological consequence remains to be uncovered.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study clearly demonstrates KIT over-expression in the human meningiomas. The data suggest that up-regulated <it>KIT</it> transcription (p < 0.001), instead of gene amplification (p > 0.05), is a likely mechanism responsible for altered KIT expression. Thus, <it>KIT</it> is a potential candidate for detailed investigation in the context of meningioma pathogenesis.</p