Diagnostic and prognostic markers in gliomas.
OBJECTIVE
This review summarizes recent studies on diagnostic and prognostic markers in gliomas such as the BRAF fusion gene in pilocytic astrocytomas and 1p/19q codeletion, O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase status and isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1)/IDH2 mutations in diffuse gliomas.


RESULTS
In pilocytic astrocytomas, the BRAF fusion gene has been recently identified as a specific and frequent event leading to potentially targetable mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway activation. In grade II/III gliomas and in glioblastomas, chromosome 1p/19q codeletion and O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase status remain the most important prognostic and predictive markers. Recently identified mutations in IDH1/IDH2, however, are specific for diffuse gliomas, occur frequently in grade II/III gliomas and are of prognostic value in grade III gliomas, as well in glioblastomas in which they characterize secondary glioblastomas.


CONCLUSIONS
Extensive molecular studies have enabled the discovery of new diagnostic and prognostic markers that are refining the histomolecular classification of gliomas.
Ducray
François
F
Unité Inserm U842, Service de Neurologie B, Hôpital Neurologique, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France. francois.ducray@chu-lyon.fr
El Hallani
Soufiane
S
Idbaih
Ahmed
A
D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D002878:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 / Q000235:genetics; D002888:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19 / Q000235:genetics; D005910:Glioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007521:Isocitrate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics; D019853:O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D011379:Prognosis; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics
C538784:IDH2 protein, human; D007521:Isocitrate Dehydrogenase; C543588:IDH1 protein, human; D019853:O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf