IKUTA Soko    Department   School of Medicine(Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital), School of Medicine    Position
Article types	Original article
Language	English
Peer review	Peer reviewed
Title	Clear cells are associated with proliferative activity in ependymoma: a quantitative study
Journal	Formal name：Clinical Neuropathology Abbreviation：Clin Neuropathol ISSN code：07225091
Domestic / Foregin	Foregin
Volume, Issue, Page	31(3),pp.146-151
Author and coauthor	ISHIZAWA Keisuke†, KOMORI Takashi, AIHARA Yasuo, MARUYAMA Takashi, OKADA Yoshikazu, IKUTA Soko, MURAGAKI Yoshihiro, HIROSE Takanori, HOMMA Taku, SASAKI Atsushi
Publication date	2012/05
Summary	Ependymomas comprise WHO Grade (G) II tumors (ependymomas) and WHO Grade III tumors (anaplastic ependymomas). Clear cell ependymoma, a subtype of ependymoma characterized by proliferation of clear cells, generally corresponds to WHO Grade III. On the other hand, clear cells are common in otherwise conventional ependymomas. This study aims to reveal the direct relationship between clear cells and proliferative activity in ependymomas. A total of 14 ependymomas with clear cells, comprising 6 WHO Grade II tumors and 8 Grade III tumors, were studied. The sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and also immunostained with PHH3, a marker of mitosis, and MIB-1, an anti-Ki-67 antibody. Each case was assessed on H&E sections for necrosis and microvascular proliferation, and semi-quantified for clear cells in an increasing order as Grades I - III (clear cell grade). Mitoses were counted on H&E and PHH3-stained sections, under a light microscope, in 4 areas showing a high amount of mitosis. The MIB-1 index was manually determined on 4 images captured from the area showing the highest amount of Ki-67-positive nuclei. The results were as follows: 1) Necrosis or microvascular proliferation was present irrespective of the clear cell grade (amount of clear cells). 2) A higher amount of clear cells was associated with a higher proliferative activity. These results indicate that clear cells could be an independent prognostic factor other than necrosis, microvascular proliferation, or the WHO grade. It seems important to assess clear cells, apart from the concept of clear cell ependymoma, when diagnosing an ependymoma.
DOI	10.5414/NP300445
Document No.	22551919