Figure 1.

Workflow of the study. Of the 232 patients in the database, not all bio-material was available from each patient. In 176 patients, at least mRNA, primary culture, or CSF was present. mRNA analysis was obtained for 144 tumor samples, correlation with tumor volume could be obtained in 124 samples, and correlation with growth rate was found in 31 tumor samples. Quantification of cytokines in cell culture supernatants (CCSs) of primary cultures was performed in 45 samples, correlation with tumor volume was possible in 40 samples, and correlation with growth rate was possible in 12 samples. Concentration analysis of cytokines in CSF was feasible in 52 samples, whereby a correlation with tumor volume in 49 samples and a correlation with growth rate in 12 samples was obtained. Abbreviations: CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; NF2, NF2-related schwannomatosis; qPCR, quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction; VS, vestibular schwannoma.