Background: Vestibular schwannomas in younger patients have been observed to be larger in size and grow more quickly.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the expression of three important cell cycle proteins, cyclin D1, cyclin D3 and Ki-67, in vestibular schwannoma patients separated into two age groups: ≤ 40 years or > 40 years.
Method: Immunohistochemical detection of cyclin D1, cyclin D3 and Ki-67 was undertaken in 180 surgically resected vestibular schwannomas.
Results: The proliferation index of vestibular schwannomas was statistically higher in the ≤ 40 years age group compared to that in the > 40 years age group (mean of 4.52 vs 3.27, respectively; p = 0.01). Overexpression of cyclin D1 and cyclin D3 was found in 68 per cent and 44 per cent of tumours, respectively.
Conclusion: There was an increased Ki-67 proliferation index in the younger age group that appears to correlate with clinical behaviour. Vestibular schwannomas in both age groups show increased expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin D3.
Keywords: Acoustic Neuroma; Age Of Onset; Cyclin D1; Cyclin D3; Ki-67 Antigen; Neurofibromatosis 2.