Low-grade oligodendroglioma: an indolent but incurable disease?

2009 ◽  
Vol 111 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamdy El-Hateer ◽  
Luis Souhami ◽  
David Roberge ◽  
Rolando del Maestro ◽  
Richard Leblanc ◽  
...  

Object The authors reviewed their institutional experience with pure low-grade oligodendroglioma (LGO), correlating outcomes with several variables of possible prognostic values. Methods Sixty-nine patients with WHO-classified LGOs were treated between 1992 and 2006 at the McGill University Health Center. Clinical, pathological, and radiological records were carefully reviewed. Demographic characteristics; the nature and duration of presenting symptoms; baseline neurological function; extent of resection; Karnofsky Performance Scale score; preoperative radiological findings including tumor size, location, and absence/presence of enhancement; and pathological data including chromosome arms 1p/19q codeletion and O-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase promoter gene methylation status were all compiled. The timing and dose of radio- and/or chemotherapy, date of tumor progression, pathological finding at disease progression, treatment at time of disease progression, and status at the last follow-up were also recorded. Results The median follow-up period was 6.1 years (range 1.3–16.3 years). The majority (78%) of patients presented with seizures; contrast enhancement was initially seen in 16 patients (25%). All patients had undergone an initial surgical procedure: gross-total resection in 27%, partial resection in 59%, and biopsy only in the remaining 13%. Fifteen patients received adjuvant radiotherapy. Data on O-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase promoter gene methylation status was available in 47 patients (68%) and in all but 1 patient for 1p/19q status. Survival at 5, 10, and 15 years was 83, 63, and 29%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that seizures at presentation and the absence of contrast enhancement were the only independent favorable prognostic factors for survival. The 5-, 10-, and 15-year progression-free survival rates were 46, 7.7, and 0%, respectively. Conclusions This retrospective review confirms the indolent but progressively fatal nature of LGOs. Contrast enhancement was the most evident single prognostic factor. New treatment strategies are clearly needed in the management of this disease.

Author(s):  
Rosa Della Monica ◽  
Mariella Cuomo ◽  
Roberta Visconti ◽  
Annabella di Mauro ◽  
Michela Buonaiuto ◽  
...  

Unresectable neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) often poorly respond to standard therapeutic approaches. Alkylating agents, in particular temozolomide, commonly used to treat high-grade brain tumors including glioblastomas, have recently been tested in advanced or metastatic NENs, where they showed promising response rates. In glioblastomas, prediction of response to temozolomide is based on the assessment of the methylation status of the MGMT gene, as its product, O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase, may counteract the damaging effects of the alkylating agent. However, in NENs, such a biomarker has not been validated yet. Thus, we have investigated MGMT methylation in 42 NENs of different grades and from various sites of origin by two different approaches: in contrast to methylation-specific PCR (MSP), which is commonly used in glioblastoma management, amplicon bisulfite sequencing (ABS) is based on high resolution next-generation sequencing and interrogates several additional CpG sites compared to those covered by MSP. Overall, we found MGMT methylation in 74% (31/42) of the NENs investigated. A higher methylation degree was observed in well-differentiated tumors and in tumors originating in the gastrointestinal tract. Comparing MSP and ABS results, we demonstrate that the region analyzed by the MSP test is sufficiently informative of the MGMT methylation status in NENs, suggesting that this predictive parameter could routinely be interrogated also in NENs


F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 139
Author(s):  
Pricilla Yani Gunawan ◽  
Andi Asadul Islam ◽  
Julius July ◽  
Ilhamjaya Patelongi ◽  
Agussalim Bukhari ◽  
...  

Background: Glioma is one of the most common primary brain tumours and conveys a dismal prognosis despite aggressive treatment. Several biomarkers have been studied in the hope of yielding better diagnostic accuracy and improving patient management. Besides survival, functional and neurological disability are concerns that have no lesser importance. In 2017, a disease-specific assessment tool – the Neurologic Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (NANO) scale – was developed to measure neurologic function in neuro-oncology cases. We sought to determine biomarkers that might be associated with neurological scale improvement in glioma patients.  Methods: Glioma grade II-IV patients were recruited from three major hospitals in Jakarta-Tangerang. Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation and O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter gene methylation were tested, as well as patients’ neurological function before surgery and three months after. Improvement in neurological scale (NANO scale) was considered positive if there was a decrement of ≥1 of the scale.  Results: There were 54 patients included in the study. Mean age was 43.63 (14.723) years old, and 61.1% were male. As much as 16 (29.6%) carried a mutation in codon 132 of the IDH1 gene, and 33 (61.1%) were MGMT methylated. Median NANO scale score before and three months after surgery was 4 (0-12) and 3 (0-12), respectively. Neurological improvement was found in 44 (81.5%) of the patients. Among patients with MGMT promoter gene methylation, 90.9% showed neurological improvement (p=0.035; OR=5; 95%CI 1.122-22.272).  Conclusions: Gliomas with MGMT promoter gene methylation are more likely to show neurological improvement three months after surgery.


F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 139
Author(s):  
Pricilla Yani Gunawan ◽  
Andi Asadul Islam ◽  
Julius July ◽  
Ilhamjaya Patelongi ◽  
Agussalim Bukhari ◽  
...  

Background: Glioma is one of the most common primary brain tumours and conveys a dismal prognosis despite aggressive treatment. Several biomarkers have been studied in the hope of yielding better diagnostic accuracy and improving patient management. Besides survival, functional and neurological disability are concerns that have no lesser importance. In 2017, a disease-specific assessment tool – the Neurologic Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (NANO) scale – was developed to measure neurologic function in neuro-oncology cases. We sought to determine biomarkers that might be associated with neurological scale improvement in glioma patients.  Methods: Glioma grade II-IV patients were recruited from three major hospitals in Jakarta-Tangerang. Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation and O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter gene methylation were tested, as well as patients’ neurological function before surgery and three months after. Improvement in neurological scale (NANO scale) was considered positive if there was a decrement of ≥1 of the scale.  Results: There were 54 patients included in the study. Mean age was 43.63 (14.723) years old, and 61.1% were male. As much as 16 (29.6%) carried a mutation in codon 132 of the IDH1 gene, and 33 (61.1%) were MGMT methylated. Median NANO scale score before and three months after surgery was 4 (0-12) and 3 (0-12), respectively. Neurological improvement was found in 44 (81.5%) of the patients. Among patients with MGMT promoter gene methylation, 90.9% showed neurological improvement (p=0.035; OR=5; 95%CI 1.122-22.272).  Conclusions: Gliomas with MGMT promoter gene methylation are more likely to show neurological improvement three months after surgery.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii155-ii156
Author(s):  
Allison Lowman ◽  
Sarah Hurrell ◽  
Samuel Bobholz ◽  
Jennifer Connelly ◽  
Elizabeth Cochran ◽  
...  

Abstract PURPOSE Tumor treatment fields (TTFields) are approved by the FDA for newly diagnosed as well as recurrent glioblastoma (GBM). TTFields have been shown to extend survival by 4.9 months in newly diagnosed GBM, and a landmark overall survival rate of 13% at 5 years. However, the specific effects remain widely unknown, which has prevented widespread clinical use of this treatment. METHODS This case study examines two glioblastoma patients, IDH-1 wildtype, MGMT unmethylated, that received TTFields (Optune) in addition to maintenance temozolomide (TMZ) following radiation (RT). Both cases were followed using standard MR imaging. Second resections were performed due to radiographic progression of contrast enhancement. RESULTS Although imaging was concerning for tumor progression, pathology showed only treatment effect, ultimately leading to the diagnosis of pseudoprogression. Both patients fell outside the normal expected timeline for chemo-radiation induced pseudoprogression. Based on the pathology, both patients resumed treatment with TMZ/TTFields. One patient expired at 25 months and one is still alive. CONCLUSIONS Pathologic confirmation was essential for guiding further treatment and allowed patients to continue treatment that was effective despite contrary indications on imaging. These findings suggest that pathological confirmation should be strongly considered in patients receiving TMZ/TTFields who develop radiographic progression, potentially with a less invasive biopsy procedure. Future studies should look to characterize the underlying mechanism of interaction between TTFields/TMZ and quantify the prevalence, associated risk factors and whether there is a genotype more susceptible. Both patients reported here had O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) unmethylated GBM, and while about 60% of glioblastomas are diagnosed likewise, it is possible that MGMT methylation status plays a role in TTFields response. Better characterization of this phenomenon will improve treatment guidance, potentially reducing unnecessary surgeries and the discontinuance of successful therapies.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Oldrini ◽  
Nuria Vaquero-Siguero ◽  
Quanhua Mu ◽  
Paula Kroon ◽  
Ying Zhang ◽  
...  

AbstractTemozolomide (TMZ) is an oral alkylating agent used for the treatment of glioblastoma and is now becoming a chemotherapeutic option in patients diagnosed with high-risk low-grade gliomas. The O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is responsible for the direct repair of the main TMZ-induced toxic DNA adduct, the O6-Methylguanine lesion. MGMT promoter hypermethylation is currently the only known biomarker for TMZ response in glioblastoma patients. Here we show that a subset of recurrent gliomas carries MGMT genomic rearrangements that lead to MGMT overexpression, independently from changes in its promoter methylation. By leveraging the CRISPR/Cas9 technology we generated some of these MGMT rearrangements in glioma cells and demonstrated that the MGMT genomic rearrangements contribute to TMZ resistance both in vitro and in vivo. Lastly, we showed that such fusions can be detected in tumor-derived exosomes and could potentially represent an early detection marker of tumor recurrence in a subset of patients treated with TMZ.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Makoto Ohno ◽  
Yasuji Miyakita ◽  
Masamichi Takahashi ◽  
Hiroshi Igaki ◽  
Yuko Matsushita ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of elderly patients (aged ≥75 years) with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM), who were treated with hypofractionated radiotherapy comprising 45 Gy in 15 fractions combined with temozolomide (TMZ) or TMZ and bevacizumab (TMZ/Bev). Materials and methods Between October 2007 and August 2018, 30 patients with GBM aged ≥75 years were treated with hypofractionated radiotherapy consisting of 45 Gy in 15 fractions. Twenty patients received TMZ and 10 received TMZ/Bev as upfront chemotherapy. O-6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status was analyzed by pyrosequencing. The cutoff value of the mean level of methylation at the 16 CpG sites was 16%. Results Median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 12.9 months and 9.9 months, respectively. The 1-year OS and PFS rates were 64.7 and 34.7%, respectively. Median OS and PFS did not differ significantly between patients with MGMT promoter hypermethylation (N = 11) and those with hypomethylation (N = 16) (17.4 vs. 11.8 months, p = 0.32; and 13.1 vs. 7.3 months, p = 0.11, respectively). The median OS and PFS were not significantly different between TMZ (N = 20) and TMZ/Bev (N = 10) chemotherapy (median OS: TMZ 12.9 months vs. TMZ/Bev 14.6 months, p = 0.93, median PFS: TMZ 8.5 months vs TMZ/Bev 10.0 months, p = 0.64, respectively). The median time until Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score decreasing below 60 points was 7.9 months. The best radiological responses included 11 patients with a partial response (36.7%). Grade 3/4 toxicities included leukopenia in 15 patients (50%), anorexia in 4 (13.3%), and hyponatremia during concomitant chemotherapy in 3 (10%). Conclusion Our hypofractionated radiotherapy regimen combined with TMZ or TMZ/Bev showed benefits in terms of OS, PFS, and KPS maintenance with acceptable toxicities in elderly patients with GBM aged ≥75 years.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annika Malmström ◽  
Małgorzata Łysiak ◽  
Bjarne Winther Kristensen ◽  
Elizabeth Hovey ◽  
Roger Henriksson ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Glioma O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status informs clinical decision making. Worldwide different methods and cutoff levels are used, which can lead to discordant methylation results. Methods We conducted an international survey to clarify which methods are regularly used and why. We also explored opinions regarding international consensus on methods and cutoff. Results The survey had 152 respondents from 25 countries. MGMT methylation status is determined for all glioblastomas in 37% of laboratories. The most common methods are methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (msPCR) (37%) and pyrosequencing (34%). A method is selected for simplicity (56%), cost-effectiveness (50%), and reproducibility of results (52%). For sequencing, the number of CpG sites analyzed varies from 1–3 up to more than 16. For 50% of laboratories, the company producing the kit determines which CpG sites are examined, whereas 33% select the sites themselves. Selection of cutoff is equally distributed among a cutoff defined in the literature, by the local laboratory, or by the outside laboratory performing the analysis. This cutoff varies, reported from 1% to 30%, and in 1 laboratory tumor is determined as methylated in case of 1 methylated CpG site of 17 analyzed. Some report tumors as unmethylated or weakly vs highly methylated. An international consensus on MGMT methylation method and cutoff is warranted by 66% and 76% of respondents, respectively. The method preferred would be msPCR (45%) or pyrosequencing (42%), whereas 18% suggest next-generation sequencing. Conclusion Although analysis of MGMT methylation status is routine, there is controversy regarding laboratory methods and cutoff level. Most respondents favor development of international consensus guidelines.


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