title: TERT mutation in glioma: Frequency, prognosis and risk.
abstract: Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) has received a great deal of attention in recent years for its role as a prognostic and predictive molecular marker of glioma. However, the results of studies examining its mutation frequency and predictive value are inconsistent, and several studies have investigated the association between TERT gene polymorphisms and gliomagenesis. We used a meta-analysis approach to examine these unsolved problems. A bibliography search using EMBASE and MEDLINE was performed to identify potentially relevant articles and conference abstracts that investigated TERT mutations in glioma. The references contained in the identified trials were also examined to identify any other relevant published or unpublished articles. Sixteen studies were included. Pooled estimates of the relative risks (RR), 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), hazard ratios (HR) and frequency were calculated. TERT mutations occurred frequently in glioblastoma (69%) and oligodendrogliomas (72%) but were less frequent in astrocytomas (24%) and oligoastrocytomas (38%). The HR for glioma patients with TERT mutations versus wild type TERT was 1.63 (95% CI 1.35-1.98). TERT polymorphisms were associated with an increased risk of glioma compared to controls (RR=1.28, 95% CI 1.23-1.33). Our study shows that the TERT gene is a valuable prognostic and predictive biomarker of glioma, and TERT gene polymorphisms are significantly associated with an increased risk of glioma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Si Chuan University, Waiguoxuexiang No. 37, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610041, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: The Affiliated Hospital of Cheng Du University, China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: West China Medical School of Si Chuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Gou
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maling
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Si Chuan University, Waiguoxuexiang No. 37, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610041, China.
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Si Chuan University, Waiguoxuexiang No. 37, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610041, China.
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yanhui
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Si Chuan University, Waiguoxuexiang No. 37, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610041, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ruofei
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, China.
authors.forename: Mao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yunhe
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Si Chuan University, Waiguoxuexiang No. 37, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610041, China.
authors.forename: Luo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiewen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Si Chuan University, Waiguoxuexiang No. 37, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610041, China. Electronic address: qingmao2000@163.com.
authors.forename: Mao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qing
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005910:Glioma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011379:Prognosis; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012306:Risk; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase
keywords: Frequency; Glioma; Survival; TERT