Functional Classification of Apoptotic Sensitivity in Meningioma

Introduction: Genomic instability near the NF2 locus (22q12.1) has been linked with meningioma oncogenesis and is a prognosticator of poorer outcomes; many have attributed this to the antiapoptotic effects of the NF2 gene product—merlin. Herein, we applied a novel technique (BH3 profiling) to assess the intrinsic sensitivity of meningioma cell lines to apoptotic stress as a unifying endpoint of adjuvant therapies including ionizing radiation. Correlating this assessment across grades and NF2 status promises to identify functional differences between meningioma lines to uncover differential vulnerabilities.