Clinicopathologic aspects of 1p/19q loss and the diagnosis of oligodendroglioma.
BACKGROUND
Significant interobserver variability exists with respect to the diagnosis of oligodendroglial neoplasms, especially their distinction from astrocytoma and mixed oligoastrocytoma. Combined loss of the short arm of chromosome 1 and the long arm of chromosome 19 has been shown to be both relatively specific to oligodendroglioma and, when present, a marker of improved prognosis in patients with these tumors. In addition, 1p/19q loss has been shown to be a marker of "classic" oligodendroglial histology. These findings raise questions as to the role of 1p/19q testing in clinical practice, both as a prognostic marker and as a potential diagnostic marker among infiltrating glial neoplasms.


OBJECTIVE
This review discusses the issues raised above and tries to clarify the current status of 1p/19q evaluation in the diagnosis of oligodendroglioma.


METHODS
Sources for this review include recent literature as well as the experience of 3 practicing neuropathologists.


CONCLUSIONS
1p/19q status is an important marker in oligodendroglioma. Loss of 1p/19q is associated with classic oligodendroglioma histology as well as improved prognosis. The combined 1p/19q marker will continue to be a clinically useful marker of prognosis and could potentially be incorporated into diagnostic criteria in the future.
Aldape
Kenneth
K
M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Pathology and Brain Tumor Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 60153, USA. kaldape@mdanderson.org
Burger
Peter C
PC
Perry
Arie
A
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D002878:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 / Q000235:genetics; D002888:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D009837:Oligodendroglioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor