A clinicopathological and molecular genetic analysis of low-grade glioma in adults

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify molecular markers that can determine progression of low grade glioma. This was done using various approaches such as IDH1 and IDH2 mutation analysis, MGMT methylation analysis, copy number analysis using array comparative genomic hybridisation and identification of differentially expressed miRNAs using miRNA microarray analysis. IDH1 mutation was present at a frequency of 71% in low grade glioma and was identified as an independent marker for improved OS in a multivariate analysis, which confirms the previous findings in low grade glioma studies. IDH1 mutation was associated with MGMT promoter methylation when partially methylated tumours were grouped with methylated tumours. Grade II and grade III tumour comparison analysis revealed 14 novel significant miRNAs with differential expression. A miRNA signature was shown for histological subtypes, oligoastrocytoma and anaplastic oligoastrocytoma, following the miRNA expression analysis in grade II and grade III tumors based on histology. Oligoastrocytoma presented a more similar profile to oligodendroglioma, but anaplastic oligoastrocytoma was more similar to anaplastic astrocytoma. Five novel miRNAs were identified in grade III tumours, when comparing IDH1 mutant and IDH1 wild type tumours. Analysis of paired samples of primary/recurrent tumours revealed that additional genomic changes may promote tumour progression. For each of the pair, the two samples were genomically different and in each case, the reccurent tumours had more copy number aberrations than the corresponding primary tumours. Cell cultures derived from the tumour biopsies were not representative of the low grade glioma in vivo, which was evident from the differences identified in the miRNA expression and copy number changes in the paired samples. IDH1 mutation present in tumour biopsies was not maintained in their respective cell cultures. These findings give an insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in the tumourigenesis of low grade glioma and also tumour progression.