title: Assessing MGMT methylation status and its current impact on treatment in glioblastoma.
abstract: MGMT promoter methylation status is a strong and independent prognostic factor in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma and a clinically relevant predictive marker in the subpopulation of elderly glioblastoma patients. However, there is still lack of consensus on the optimal assay for reliable MGMT promoter methylation testing and a variety of test are being used in different laboratories. Pyrosequencing is the only method for which an adequately high analytical performance (high intra- and interlaboratory repeatability and reproducibility) has been demonstrated in a fully published ring trial. For clinical decision-making MGMT promoter methylation testing should be performed only in experienced laboratories using meticulous validation of assay accuracy. Ideally, such laboratories should undergo regular accreditation through a quality control consortium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Anna S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Berghoff
authors.forename: Johannes A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hainfellner
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marosi
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Preusser
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases / Q000235:genetics*; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008745:Methylation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D015254:DNA Modification Methylases
keywords: MGMT promoter methylation; O6-methylguanine-methyltransferase; biomarker; glioma; temozolomide