title: Intrinsic gene expression profiles of gliomas are a better predictor of survival than histology.
abstract: Gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors with heterogeneous morphology and variable prognosis. Treatment decisions in patients rely mainly on histologic classification and clinical parameters. However, differences between histologic subclasses and grades are subtle, and classifying gliomas is subject to a large interobserver variability. To improve current classification standards, we have performed gene expression profiling on a large cohort of glioma samples of all histologic subtypes and grades. We identified seven distinct molecular subgroups that correlate with survival. These include two favorable prognostic subgroups (median survival, >4.7 years), two with intermediate prognosis (median survival, 1-4 years), two with poor prognosis (median survival, <1 year), and one control group. The intrinsic molecular subtypes of glioma are different from histologic subgroups and correlate better to patient survival. The prognostic value of molecular subgroups was validated on five independent sample cohorts (The Cancer Genome Atlas, Repository for Molecular Brain Neoplasia Data, GSE12907, GSE4271, and Li and colleagues). The power of intrinsic subtyping is shown by its ability to identify a subset of prognostically favorable tumors within an external data set that contains only histologically confirmed glioblastomas (GBM). Specific genetic changes (epidermal growth factor receptor amplification, IDH1 mutation, and 1p/19q loss of heterozygosity) segregate in distinct molecular subgroups. We identified a subgroup with molecular features associated with secondary GBM, suggesting that different genetic changes drive gene expression profiles. Finally, we assessed response to treatment in molecular subgroups. Our data provide compelling evidence that expression profiling is a more accurate and objective method to classify gliomas than histologic classification. Molecular classification therefore may aid diagnosis and can guide clinical decision making.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lonneke A M
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Gravendeel
authors.forename: Mathilde C M
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kouwenhoven
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gevaert
authors.forename: Johan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: de Rooi
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Stubbs
authors.forename: J Elza
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Duijm
authors.forename: Anneleen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daemen
authors.forename: Fonnet E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Bleeker
authors.forename: Linda B C
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Bralten
authors.forename: Nanne K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Kloosterhof
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: De Moor
authors.forename: Paul H C
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Eilers
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: van der Spek
authors.forename: Johan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kros
authors.forename: Peter A E
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Sillevis Smitt
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: van den Bent
authors.forename: Pim J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: French
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005910:Glioma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult